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Last July, 32 Veterans receiving care at the VA Maryland Health Care System participated in a local Veterans Creative Arts Competition. Nationwide, thousands of Veterans receiving care at

other VA facilities participated in their own competitions. First-place entries from each facility then moved forward to compete nationally. The culmination of the national competition is

taking place this week during the 41st annual National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, held in St. Petersburg, Florida. Among those in attendance is U.S. Army Veteran Renee Simmons. Renee

took first place in the VA Maryland Health Care System competition with two art entries: “Ink Art Love” in the Stained/Painted Ceramics category, and “Love Garden” in the Assemblage

category. She also performed an original vocal, “Rain!” While she did not place nationally, Renee was selected as one of just eight participants nationwide to receive a Therapeutic Arts

Scholarship. Veterans are nominated for this scholarship by the staff at their VA facility and selected to attend the national festival based on therapeutic benefits. The scholarship allows

recipients to participate in the six-day national festival with all lodging and meal expenses paid. We spoke with Renee just before she and Kelsey Eisenhauer, creative arts therapist and

coordinator of the Creative Arts Competition at the VA Maryland Health Care System, headed out to Florida for the celebration. ------------------------- Q: WHAT KIND OF BENEFITS DO YOU FIND

IN CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY? A: For me, its feeling like you belong—you belong to a community of friends. I also like the connections you make with the therapists—your therapist can help you

identify things you need to work on and help you continue in a positive manner. And I like learning new skills, like playing the guitar. Q: WHAT APPEALS TO YOU ABOUT THE CREATIVE ARTS

COMPETITION IN PARTICULAR? A: I like the opportunity that it gives to bring out your talents. A lot of times there are talents you don’t practice or utilize, but with this platform, it gets

you motivated. It can lead you to work on things you haven’t done in years. And that helps with times of being isolated. It occupies your mind and keeps you from the stinking thinking! [aka

negative thoughts] You have to get into your life and get out of your head! Q: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FOUND OUT YOU WERE SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE SCHOLARSHIP TO GO TO THE NATIONAL EVENT?

A: I was shocked, grateful, excited! Out of all the people, they chose me. I love that they thought I was worth it. I’m excited to be going and doing the workshops and learning new things

like how to publish, write music, write stories, make jewelry… these are skills I can bring home with me. Q: WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN YOU GET TO FLORIDA? A: I’m excited

about the workshops. And I really want to see everyone’s artwork. I want to look at others’ work and better understand where I can improve. I’ll be there with my own artwork – I won locally,

but not nationally–so I hope to be able to find out their techniques and see where I can improve. And meeting people–being challenged to open up and meet new people, that’s a good thing! Q:

THIS CREATIVE ARTS COMPETITION ISN’T THE ONLY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN WITH VA. WHAT ELSE DO YOU GET INTO? I was in a guitar group, we used to meet at Loch Raven but now we use VVC [VA

Video Connect]. There’s KT [kinesiology], horticulture…. I’ll be getting into occupational therapy soon. And there’s kayaking, golf, the Golden Age Games…. I don’t want to miss anything!

This is my family—the VA is taking care of me. I want to appreciate them, as much as they want to give me the opportunity to join these programs. Q: DO YOU SHARE THIS ENTHUSIASM WITH OTHER

VETERANS? A: Yes! I met a gentleman downtown [at the Baltimore VA Medical Center] who had his artwork with him. I told him about the Creative Arts Festival, and I gave him the number to call

to get more information. I’ve also referred people to our guitar group. Q: WHAT DO YOU WANT OTHER VETERANS TO KNOW ABOUT CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY? A: I tell them, once you get to know Kelsey

[creative arts therapist], she’s the sweetest, most professional, nicest person you could meet. The whole team is great, but Kelsey is very knowledgeable and gives great advice. All you have

to do is follow it, and it will improve your quality of life! ------------------------- Congratulations to Renee Simmons, and  to these Veterans from the VA Maryland Health Care System

whose local 1st place entries moved forward and placed nationally: * Jennifer Combs, 2nd place, glasswork, for “Sandpipers” * Barbara Gilbert, 2nd place, paint by number kit, “Lyon’s Kitty”

* Butch Bohle, 3rd place, special recognition, “What Do You Call…”