Healing through creativity: New Braunfels gala to support local veteran artists

Danielle and Mario Lopez
Danielle and Mario Lopez are pictured with one of Mario’s paintings in their New Braunfels home on Feb. 2. Lopez, a wounded Army veteran, will host a gala with the New Century Art Guild on March 10 to support military veteran artists.

Story by THERESA DAVIS | Herald-Zeitung

New Braunfels resident Mario Lopez lost his right arm and most of his left hand in 2008 when a bomb hit his Army vehicle in Afghanistan but Lopez can still hold a paintbrush and a microphone — and he uses both to spread a message of healing and hope.

Lopez and the New Century Art Guild will host a U.S. Veteran Art Gala in New Braunfels on Friday, March 10 to support veteran artists.

The event will raise money for scholarships, supplies, education and mentoring for military veterans pursuing art careers.

“Art allows me to open new doors, express myself and share my experiences,” Lopez said.

Lopez, the Guild’s Southwest Region liaison, grew up in Alice, Texas. He joined the Army after 9/11.

Lopez served as a truck driver in Iraq for a year with a combat engineering unit building roads.

Then his unit was deployed to Afghanistan.

Four months into that stint, Lopez’s armored vehicle was hit by a 300-pound improvised explosive device, or IED.

“It exploded and then the vehicle lifted up, and it fell back down on the ground,” Lopez said. “All of a sudden it was gray everywhere, and I got knocked out.”

Lopez awoke to see flames engulfing the vehicle. His right arm was trapped.

“I started thinking this is a ‘dream,’” he said. “The flames got cold after a while, because the fire burned all my nerves.”

Crews eventually freed Lopez from the vehicle and transported him to a German hospital.

He suffered severe burns, lost his right arm and most of his left hand, and lost sight in his right eye.

Back in the U.S., Lopez started down a long road of surgeries in burn recovery units.

He dealt with depression and began to overuse pain medication.

One day, Lopez noticed an original painted canvas hanging on his friend’s wall.

“I used to do woodworking, so I said, ‘Well, how about painting?’” Lopez said. “I just love to create.”

A painting by Mario Lopez, a New Braunfels resident and southwest regional liaison for the New Century Art Guild. Proceeds from a March 10 gala will support military veteran artists.THERESA DAVIS | Herald-Zeitung

And he hasn’t stopped creating ever since.

Lopez has long been involved with the New Century Art Guild.

The group supports military veteran artists’ careers through art education and business skills.

The guild views art as a powerful tool for veterans experiencing PTSD.

Mario and his wife Danielle have met dozens of Texas veteran artists through their work, and decided to launch a local gala.

“We have everyone from established artists to people just breaking through,” Danielle said. “Art is therapeutic, and it’s exciting to see what these people can do.”

The New Braunfels multimedia art gala will be at the McKenna Events Center on 801 W. San Antonio St. Doors open at 6 p.m., with a night of dinner, guest speakers, music and dancing.

Tickets are $80 each. Corporate tables and sponsorships are also available.

Visit newcenturyartguild.org to purchase tickets online, or call 361-207-2599 for more information.

Tickets may also be purchased with a check sent by mail to Attn: Texas Veterans Art Show, New Century Art Guild, 4142 Main St., PO Box 92, Elk Horn, IA, 51543.

By Theresa Davis The Herald-ZeitungFeb 8, 2023 Updated Feb 8, 2023

2023 National Veterans Competition & Festival

All forms and works must be submitted
electronically (.jpg, .doc, .pdf or similar).

A panel of judges from the local creative
arts and veteran community will determine
the top three finalists.

Entry forms and all submissions are due:
August 4, 2023.

For rule packets and entry forms, contact
Cati DeMasi at catherine.demasi@va.gov
or scan the QR code below.
Creative Arts Competition Contact:
Cati DeMasi
402-995-6600
catherine.demasi@va.gov

NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL SUPPORTS VETERAN ART WORKSHOP SERIES

Through a generous Arts Learning Project grant through the Nebraska Arts Council, veterans in the VA’s Residential program were able to use the expressive and healing powers of art-making with their fellow military veterans and support team. New Century Art Guild’s signature “Vet-X-Press” (VXP) workshop series, veterans have an opportunity to unburden mental strain in the form of self-expressed artwork created in an environment that promotes healing and relaxation. Participants use different artistic media each session, including visual art, writing, music and acting. All experience levels are welcome and no previous experience is required. Workshop series are always free to veterans and their family members. The workshops further impact on the vitality of arts and culture in the veteran community by leading to exhibitions of veteran art and supporting art events, including the VA’s Annual Creative Arts Festival.

Call for Art Entries for Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium

May be an image of text that says 'CALLING ALL NEBRASKA WOMEN VETERAN ARTISTS! Call for Art The Nebraska Department ofeterans' Affairs, in conjunction with New Century Art Guild and Uniting announces call for Women Veteran Artists ofNebraska. Title: "Celebrating Their Service" Traveling Women Veteran Artist Exhibition :September 24-25, 2022 Where:Starting point- Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium Holiday Inn Kearney. Other locations TBA. No fee-all fee mediums welcome- submissions perveteran. Entries due by August3o, Submission form at: veterans.nebrashka.gov/womenvetevans IVFW VETERANS FOREIGN WARS. Nebraska NEBRASKA Good Great VETERANS* NEBRASKA Women Veterans SYMPOSIUM UnitingUS'

— The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA), in conjunction with New Century Art Guild and Uniting Us, announces a call for women veteran artists of Nebraska to submit artwork to the “Celebrating Their Service” traveling women veteran artist exhibition. All mediums are welcome, with three submissions allowed per veteran. Submissions are due by August 30, 2022.

“The number of women veterans is growing rapidly, as is their use of the VA for healthcare,” said NDVA Women Veterans Coordinator Erin Colson. “Stories of their military service deserve greater attention, and many women veterans tell these stories through art which can be a very therapeutic process, helping veterans cope with many issues, both physical and mental.”

The art exhibition’s starting point will be at the Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium at the Holiday Inn in Kearney on September 24-25, after which it will travel the state (future locations to be announced). A submission form and additional details are available at veterans.nebraska.gov/womenveterans. For questions about the exhibition or submitting artwork, please contact Erin Colson at Erin.Colson@va.gov or Troy Muller at TMuller@newcenturyartguild.org.

Nebraska Women Veterans Symposium

Nearly half of the 200 spots available for the free, two-day symposium for Nebraska women veterans have been filled. Registration is available at veterans.nebraska.gov/womenveterans and is open until the date of the event or when all spots are filled.

Past National Commander of the American Legion Denise Rohan, who was the first woman to be elected to the top position of the American Legion, will be the keynote speaker. Leaders in the women veterans and military community will take part in a panel discussion titled “Celebrating Who I Was and Who I’ve Become,” about the struggles women veterans face both while serving in the Armed Forces and while transitioning out of the service. Other activities include a journaling exercise with Warrior Writers, an art activity with New Century Art Guild, interviews for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, and a screening of Lioness, a documentary about a group of female Army support soldiers who were part of the first program in American history to send women into direct ground combat.

Additional presenters include:

  • Nebraska/Western Iowa Women Veterans
  • Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
  • Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
  • Women Veterans Program Manager for Nebraska/Western Iowa VA Healthcare System
  • Homeless Veteran Coordinator
  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE)
  • Vet Center
  • VFW Nebraska
  • American Legion Nebraska
  • HETRA
  • Hearts for Healing
  • New Century Art Guild
  • Uniting Us
  • Wounded Warrior Family Support
  • Wounded Warrior Project

The event is hosted by the Nebraska VFW and NDVA. Financial support for the conference has come from Nebraska VFW Foundation and PenFed Foundation.

NEW CAREERS, NEW POSSIBILITIES, NEW DIRECTIONS FOR ARTISTS AND VETERANS