Veterans in Art

Veterans in the Arts and Pop Culture: San Diego Comic-Con

At this year’s annual San Diego Comic-Con, The Veterans Art Project (VETART) hosted a panel featuring seven veterans with a common passion: Art.

During this panel, veteran artists, Amit Khosla, Anthony “Tony the Vet” LoBue, Carolina Hernandez, Colin “Big C” Hoffman, Maximillian Uriarte, Reginald Green, and Tonya Savice spoke about their creative process, the relationship between art and the military and reflected about time spent in service.

San Diego Veterans Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with the Executive Director of VETART, Steven Dilley, and two of the panelist, Maximillan Uriarte, and Tonya Savice.

SDVM: Why did VETART want to host this panel?

Dilley: The promotion of Veteran created artworks continues to be a focus of The Veterans Art Project. We wish to expand the arena to promote our Veterans as they find new creative expressions for wellness and financial ends.

SDVM: What question were you most eager to ask the artist?

Dilley: What were they looking forward to as their next project.

SDVM: Would you like to host a panel for Comic-Con again? What was the most memorable moment of the event?

Dilley: Yes. It only makes sense since SDCC is a San Diego institution and how popular it is with Veteran creatives. We want to make this a part of our ongoing Veteran promotion and advocacy.

Maximillian Uriarte is most known for his comic strip, Terminal Lance, as well as his New York bestselling graphic novel, The White Donkey. His latest graphic novel, Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli was published on July 28th, 2020. San Diego Comic-Con was Uriarte’s first time working with The Veterans Art Project.

SDVM: How did you get connected with VetArt to participate in this panel?

Uriarte: I was connected to Steve Dilley by word of veteran artist Ehren Tool. I was not previously acquainted with VetArt.org, but they seemed like a great group of fellow veterans trying to make great art, and I was thrilled that they asked me to join them.

SDVM: Tell us about the most notable moment, or your favorite question of the panel.

Uriarte: For me, personally, my most notable moment was definitely arriving late due to parking (I ended up parking at a grocery store and ran to the convention on foot) while coordinating with the wonderful Tammie [VetArt’s Skillbridge Intern] all the way up to the moment I arrived. I was only 15 minutes late! Overall, I think everyone did a phenomenal job and had profound insight into the plight of the artist and the veteran (and oftenboth at the same time).

SDVM: Overall, how was the experience? Would you do it again? Savice: There was a very diverse age group. Active duty, spouses, veterans, and civilians were all present. The applause and the shoutouts were a good sign the audience was engaged. There were even a few tears! Many questions were asked, my favorite was, “How can we help veteran artists get connected?”

Uriarte: The experience was great! The group at www.VetArt.org and everyone on the panel were amazing, very friendly, and incredibly helpful in coordinating the event for everyone involved. I would absolutely do it again! (Though, I may leave a bit earlier next time) SDVM: Would you do this again next year? Why or why not?

San Diego Veterans Magazine also got to sit down with Tonya Savice. As a long-time participant at VetArt,Tonya has discovered her love for not only art but also advocacy. She now holds the title of Director of Advocacy and is working to get her own non-profit, Spread Love Thru Arts, launched.

SDVM: Why did you want to participate in this panel?

Savice: I wanted to speak on the panel to express how art impacted my mental wellness as a Veteran. Many veterans have engaged with some kind of comic growing up, including me. I learned how to transform those childhood memorieswith my military experiences into an art form!

Art is a great tool for mental wellness. I take what’s in my heart, process it in my head, and create with my hands. I was an artist first, then I became a veteran. I am in the community of upcoming veteran artists with a story to tell through our experiences and I was excited to speak on that.

SDVM: Tell us about the audience. Were they engaging? Did they ask good questions? Savice: I am looking forward to Comic Con 2023. I would love to be on the panel again to discuss the growth of veterans in art and share the progress of my nonprofit. Veterans are going to continue making an impact in arts, comics, and pop culture! I will continue to tell the story of how art helps my mental wellness and am looking forward to presenting my “Lips” comic next year.