Tucson VA Hosts Local National Creative Arts Festival Competition

Stephanie Mendez, Employee Whole Health Coordinator, expressed her excitement about the event. 

"It is a great opportunity to see everyone's artwork, from photography to paintings and even video forms and music," Mendez said. “Hopefully, it will inspire others to express themselves in creative ways."

Kimberly Lopez, Program Analyst for Whole Health, echoed Mendez's sentiments. 

"It's nice for staff members to come down here and appreciate everything that the Veterans have done and how creative they are,” she said, emphasizing the importance of the event for both staff and Veterans alike.

Julian Martinez, a volunteer at the SAVAHCS and U.S. Army Veteran, entered four pieces in the competition. 

"I try to tap into the artistic part of my life, and also get more involved with the VA," Martinez shared. "Our hospital here is very generous, understanding, and helpful."

Miranda Blakeslee, Creative Arts Therapist at Tucson VA, was thrilled at the numbers of talented Veterans submitting artwork. 

"This is a yearly event where Veterans first enter a local competition through their VA health care system to compete at the national level," she explained. "All Veterans from southern Arizona are welcome to participate, and this year, we had more than 60 Veterans submit a total of 128 pieces."

The showcase includes an impressive variety of music, drama, dance, creative writing, and visual art entries.

 "This event is all about supporting Veterans engaging in creativity to support their own health care," Blakeslee noted. "I constantly hear from our Veterans how creating helps them stay grounded, deal with PTSD, stay motivated, and find joy. Those are things we all need, and we want to support our Veterans in those endeavors."

Attendees were encouraged to vote for their favorite piece and be part of selecting the Audience Choice Award. 

"The talent here is outstanding," Blakeslee added.

By The Numbers:

• 63 Veterans participated
• 128 entries submitted
• 33 first-time participants at SAVAHCS
• 56 Veterans advancing to the national level (94 entries total)
• Over 250 audience vote cards filled out

The Winners:

Visual Arts

**People’s Choice Art**

**Rennie Bonnick: ** *Me* (Oil Painting)

**Acrylic Painting**

1. Lori Pluchinsky: *Streetscape*

2. Darline Spease: *Little Big Man*

3. Lee Myers: *Fall Leaves*

**Oil Painting**

1. Rennie Bonnick: *Me*

2. Robert Renfro: *Earth Re-Imagined*

3. John Skaggs: *Lines of Reduction*

**Watercolor**

1. John Skaggs: *Just Flow*

2. John Gates: *Fini Flight*

3. Crystal Johnson: *River’s Edge*

**Monochromatic Drawing**

1. Matt Tucker: *Mellow*

2. Lee Myers: *Souvenirs from Around the World*

3. Palmer Miller: *Thoughts*

**Colored Drawing**

1. Harry Moulin: *Montana Blue*

2. Sue McConnell: *Sunshine in Water*

**Color-by-number Kit**

1. Michael Stevens: *Pretty Bird*

2. Robert Walsh: *Mountain Meadow*

**Black and White Photography**

1. Lisa Suarez: *White Sands*

2. Azita Abtin: *Monsoon Moon*

3. Ricardo Brown: *Summertime in the Chiricahuas*

**Color Photography**

1. Clay Ruge: *Desert Sunset*

2. Keith Wilson: *Regal Beagle*

3. Amy Fee: *Eastern Great Horn Owl*

**Pyrography**

1. Raphael Temblador: *Infinity in the Palm of your Hand*

**Collage**

1. John Skaggs: *S&P Mix*

**Assemblage**

1. Robyn Fowler: *Phoebe’s Bakery*

2. Lisa Suarez: *Machete*

**Mixed Media**

1. Julian Martinez: *Miranda’s Cowboy*

2. Harry Moulin: *Spirit of Father Kino*

3. Robert Allen: *Huichul Style Beaded Gourd with Painted Bottom*

**Pottery**

1. Julian Martinez: *Green Chile Butter Dish*

**Carving**

1. Julian Martinez: *1st Step’s a Doozy*

**Woodworking**

1. Charles Jeffery Goldberg: *Carving Board*

**Wood Building Kit**

1. Dora Martinez: *Curtis Goshawk WW1 Biplane*

2. Charles Jeffery Goldberg: *Pens*

**Model Kit**

1. James Little: *A4 Skyhawk Blue Angels Livery*

**Jewelry**

1. Joe Harris: *Ladie’s Cuff*

2. Carl Fuller: *All that Glitters*

**Beadwork**

1. Robert Allen: *Huichol Style Beaded Gourd*

2. Robert Bermudez: *VA Military Rosary*

3. John Nichols: *Calednoia*

**Glasswork**

1. Robert Renfro: *Chalice of Life*

**Mosaic**

1. John Nichols: *Classic Guitar*

**Mosaic Kit**

1. Michael Stevens: *The Last Supper*

2. Feliza Williams-Fisher: *Diamond Dot Bookmark*

**Knitting/Crocheting**

1. Robert Allen: *Cable Hats*

**Needlework Original Design**

1. Sue Ackley: *Bathroom Décor*

**Needlework Kit**

1. Mary VanCamp: *Sheltered*

**Mental Health Recovery**

1. Lat Bowen: *Self Portrait*

2. Raphael Temblador: *For Nancy*

Creative Writing

**People’s Choice Writing**

1. Keith Wilson: *The Creative Process* (Non-Rhyming Poetry/General)

**Rhyming Poetry – Inspirational**

1. Gene Moore: *Worship of Wordship*

**Non-Rhyming Poetry – Military Experience**

1. John Skaggs: *The Menu in Boot Camp*

2. Peter Bourret: *No Nam Sympathy Cards*

3. Michelle McCullough-Cruz: *Here nor There*

**Non-Rhyming Poetry – Inspirational**

1. John Skaggs: *Just Eat the Food*

2. Peter Bourret: *comin’ home is so hard to do*

3. Karen Crockett: *Arlington*

**Non-Rhyming Poetry – General**

1. Keith Wilson: *The Creative Process*

2. John Skaggs: *Paper is Stronger than You Think*

3. R. Tony Hughes: *In the Morning*

**Short Story – Military Experience**

1. Joe Harris: *Midnight Encounter*

2. R. Tony Hughes: *Extemporize*

3. Karen Crockett: *The Military Family*

**Short Story – Inspirational**

1. Dora Martinez: *Wabi-Sabi*

2. Joe Harris: *The Spirit of Friendly Competition*

**Short Story – General Topic**

1. Joe Harris: *Justice*

2. Jenna Slaughter: *Welcome Home*

**Personal Essay**

1. Lat Bowen: *Casual Conversation*

2. Peter Bourret: *Personal Essay*

Performing Arts

**People’s Choice: Performing Arts**

1. Gene Moore: *Without Home* (Inspirational Poetry)

**Vocal Solo Country/Folk**

1. Angeline Hernandez: *Cicadas and Gulls*

2. Susan Holiday: *Help Me Make It Through the Night*

**Vocal Solo Rock**

1. Angeline Hernandez: *This Mother Road*

**Vocal Solo Spiritual**

1. Angeline Hernandez: *This is Amazing Grace*

**Original Vocal**

1. Robert Dietrich: *T-3*

**Instrumental Solo: World**

1. Robert Widhalm: *German Song*

2. Mike Buckley: *Untitled*

3. Lynn Roehsler: *Me*

**Instrumental Jazz**

1. Robert Widhalm: *Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White*

**Instrumental Folk/Country**

1. Robert Widhalm: *You Are My Sunshine*

**Original Instrumental**

1. Jason Oakes: *Pain’s Persistence*

2. Shay Thornton: *The Ocean*

3. Azita Abtin: *Cyrus*

**Inspirational Prose**

1. Peter Bourret: *The Best Gifts Aren’t Wrapped*

**Dramatic Poetry**

1. Peter Bourret: *Death Drum*

**Inspirational Poetry**

1. Gene Moore: *Without Home*

2. Robert Gadsden: *Highly Flavored*

3. Peter Bourret: *Fitzie: My Forever Friend*

**Interpretive Performance – Dramatic**

1. Lee Richards: *Universal Beethoven*

**Short Video – Military Theme**

1. Orlando Ford: *Through My Lens – Healing in Focus*

Through collective efforts and shared experiences, Veterans are finding new ways to heal, express themselves, and forge lasting connections. Thank you to all Veterans that participated in the local National Veterans Creative Arts Competition. 

For more information visit the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival website.