Houston VA accepting art entries for Virtual Creative Arts Competition
The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is currently accepting art entries for the 2022 VA creative arts competition which must be submitted by July 25, 2022.
Across the country each year, Veterans enrolled at VA health care facilities compete in a local creative arts competition. The competition includes categories in the visual arts division that range from oil painting to leatherwork to paint-by-number kits.
In addition, there are categories in writing as well as the performing arts of dance, drama, and music. Local creative arts competition first place winning entries advance to a national judging process and first, second and third place entries in each category are determined.
Selected gold-medal-winning Veterans are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival hosted by a different VA facility each year.
For more information about the competition, please contact Sheryl Corbit, VA Creative Arts Therapist, at 713-791-1414, ext. 23414. This year's competition will be held virtually.
Houston Veteran wins 3rd Place in 2021 National Veterans Creative Arts Competition
Congratulations to Air Force Veteran Arthur Robinson who won 3rd place in the 2021 National Veterans Creative Arts Competition in the leather stamping category.
Robinson receives his health care from the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and has participated in the creative arts competition for eight years.
In previous years, he has entered artwork such as walking sticks and assembled leather kits. Last year, he decided to try leather stamping and entered a purse called “Africa”.
“Mr. Robinson is very creative and enjoys painting, photography, leather craft kits and now leather stamping,” said Corbit. “This year’s win came as a surprise to him, being his first attempt with leather stamping.”
In addition to being an award-winning artist, Robinson has also served Veterans at the Houston VA for the past 17 years as a volunteer, and has donated more than 7,000 hours.
In 2018, he won VA volunteer of the Year for assisting Community Living Centers units with recreation therapy, community outings, setting up food trays and transporting Veterans throughout the hospital.
As a testament to his giving nature, Robinson decided not to keep his 2021 winning creative arts entry. Instead, he gave the purse to a child as a Christmas present.
“One little girl will be treasuring that beautiful purse he named “Africa” for years to come!,” said Corbit.