Veterans put their artistic talents on display

The varied talents of veterans from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin were on display Thursday during the 7th annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago.

About 75 works of art created by veterans - from paintings and drawings to sculptures and photographs - were exhibited, and more than two dozen performers entertained the crowd with songs, poetry and short stories.

Capt. Robert Buckley, commanding officer and deputy director at the health center, said the creative arts festival provides an outlet for veterans to express themselves through art.

"For me, art is a deliberate and creative process, work or act that one soul renders to express what words alone cannot express," Buckley said.

First-place winners from Thursday's event have the opportunity to compete in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival this fall in Durham, North Carolina.