Annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival Triples in Size
From ornate headdresses to multi-colored ceramic bowls and vibrant, paint-splashed canvases, art was on full display at the Annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival, a VA event that brought Veterans together with the exciting opportunity to earn national acclaim.
On August 23, 2023, dozens of Veterans, VA staff and community attendees gathered in the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center’s all-purpose room for the popular event. From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the dynamic lineup included more than 100 different art displays, creative writing entries, dance, drama and musical performances – all created by Veterans enrolled in the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.
The festival is held in some form or fashion at different VA medical centers, generally between May and August of each year.
Locally, the competition judges included representatives from many of VA’s partner organizations including Brentwood School, UCLA and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). The top three finalists in each creative category are scheduled to advance to a national competition where they’ll compete against thousands of Veterans from across the country. The first place winners will be invited to attend the 43rd National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in the spring of 2024 in Denver, Colo.
Art is used widely by VA in many settings as a tool to help rehabilitate Veterans and offer a therapeutic outlet for dealing with physical and mental health issues. VA Recreation Therapist Brenna Partridge, formerly of the West LA VA Medical Center, took the lead in organizing the local event, which has more than tripled in size over the past several years.
“I think it’s really exciting to see the growth and to be able to celebrate more Veterans,” said Partridge.
One of the festival participants, Air Force Veteran Lisa Thompkins, currently lives at the West LA VA Medical Center’s Domiciliary (DOM), a Mental Health and Residential Rehabilitation Program. Veterans live at the DOM to undergo treatment for mental health and substance use issues. The DOM has a fully stocked art room and many Recreation Therapy opportunities for residents to engage in artistic activities.
Thompkins started her art career with adult coloring books and has since graduated to acrylic and mixed media. She had two works in the festival, including one inspired by a fellow DOM resident who died of a heart attack. It was titled “Louie: Monkey Fish My Process.”
“It’s here so that people understand how much we touch each other’s lives and when we’re gone there’s such a hole, a pain that’s left,” said Thompkins. The colorful canvas included several hues of paint, stickers that represented Louie’s life journey, a rose and a memorial card with a photo of him.
“I’m learning. I think art is a constant learning process. I don’t think you ever master it and I’m not looking to,” said Thompkins. “It keeps me mindful and engrossed; it takes me out of that story that I replay in my head all the time.”
Full of smiles, nearby artist and Marine Corps Veteran Margaret Abdullaev was showcasing her African-inspired “medizen” bags. Her work includes cowrie shells, a widely recognized shell sourced from a type of sea snail. These shells, which come in a variety of sizes, were once used as currency in Africa, said Abdullaev.
“These were inspired by my love for African-inspired jewelry, artwork, clothing and people,” she said.
The bags feature a large cowrie shell with a macrame, or decorative series of tied knots, and include what Abdullaev calls a “treasure keeper” (a small pocket) on the back. Inside, she tucks a small, folded piece of paper with an uplifting message, paired with a swatch of African fabric. Gemstones, rings or other small items can also be tucked into the pocket.
“I’m just inspired by nature. I love camping, I love the woods, I love the beach, I love the outdoors, I love the sun,” she said, adding that her connection to VA services has greatly enhanced her life and allowed her to focus on what she loves, particularly art.
The results of the national competition will be announced in December 2023. In past years, some entrants from West LA VA Medical Center have placed nationally, said Partridge.
This year’s festival participants were eager to share their stories of how art has positively impacted their lives.
Artist and Army Veteran Eugene “Buddha” Rivera has participated in the festival for six years. He uses abstract art and acrylic pouring, in which you pour acrylic paints over a canvas, as a means of support. Other Veteran artists are “his family,” he said.
“Art is very powerful,” said Rivera. “I love this event.”