Veterans Reflect | Michael Bever, Ines Gardea, Ty Hanyzewski, Jerry Loza, Anna Nicole Nothnagel, Ramona Pozek | November 3, 2025 - February 27, 2026
Jerry Loza | Water Tower Christmas, 2024, Digital art, 24 × 18 inches
Exhibition Dates: November 3, 2025 - February 27, 2026
Riverside Town Hall: 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546
Viewing Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Artist Reception: Sunday, December 14, 2025, 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Join us afterwards for a private cocktail hour at the Quincy Street Distillery
On view during the Riverside Holiday Stroll: Friday, December 5, 2025, 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Riverside Arts Center is pleased to present an exhibition by local artists and veterans Michael Bever, Ines Gardea, Ty Hanyzewski, Jerry Loza, Anna Nothnagel, and Ramona Pozek at the Riverside Town Hall. The six artists are all veterans, serving our country in the military and now use art as a creative way to express themselves as a reflection of their experiences and observations. Co-curated by Jerry Loza and Joanne Aono, the exhibition consists of painting, photography, and digital art.
Please join us for a reception for the artists on Sunday, December 14, 2025 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. The Town Hall is located at 27 Riverside Road, a short block from the Riverside Arts Center. Refreshments will be served in RAC’s sculpture garden. Join us afterwards for a private cocktail hour across the street at the Quincy Street Distillery. The exhibition will be on view Mondays to Thursdays 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Fridays 9:00 am – 3:00 pm through February 27, 2026. The Town Hall is closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.
Michael Bever | Rainy Day Commute, Acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30 inches
Michael Bever is a U.S. Army Ranger veteran and Chicago-based artist. His military service and observations of the world influence his paintings. Bever writes, " Every hue on my palette is a reflection, not only of the urban landscape and the everyday moments with my family, but also of the resilience, strength, and camaraderie forged during my time in the military. The bold, energetic hues are inspired by the city's architecture and by the unstoppable spirit of fellow veterans, creating a visual dialogue that speaks to the shared journey of service and sacrifice. Colour, in my art, becomes a bridge between these worlds — a storyteller that weaves together the threads of diverse experiences. Each stroke is a word, and every composition is a chapter that resonates with the echoes of military life and the broader human experience."
https://michaelbeverart.com
@michael.bever.art
https://www.facebook.com/michael.bever.3/
Ines Gardea | Looking for Nectar, Digital print on canvas, 16 × 20 inches
Ines Gardea was born in Mexico and raised in Chicago. A Marine Veteran who served in the mid 70’s. he started taking photos when he was in the 8th grade with a 110 Kodak camera. He taught himself photography by reading books, and constantly practicing. Gardea bought his first 35mm camera while stationed in Japan. He views photography as therapy, as he looks for things that not everyone sees. Gardea feels that if many of our Veterans with PTSD picked up a camera it would be therapy for them, as it is for him. He enjoys going out for sunrises, sunsets, cityscapes, and landscapes, and enjoys the peace of getting lost in nature. He has photographed events for NBC and the Chicago Tribune, as well as for weddings and portraits. His photography hangs in homes around the USA, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.
@ineagardea
https://www.facebook.com/ines.gardea
Ty Hanyzewski | Skyline Sunset, 2024, Digital art print on canvas, 24 × 18 inches
Ty Hanyzewski is a U.S. Marine Veteran turned filmmaker and photographer. He attended Columbia College Chicago where he obtained a major in Cinema arts + Sciences with a minor in screenwriting. He was a former field operator in the United States Marine Corps. He is co-founder of the Veteran Art Tribe, a community of veterans who are artists - providing workshops, exhibitions, and connection through the healing of art.
@ty_hanyzewski1
https://www.facebook.com/tylerhanyzewski/
Jerry Loza | Berwyn Spindle, 2020, Limited edition Photography, 10 × 19 inches
Jerry Loza is a Mexican American veteran raised on the west side of Chicago. He served four years in the Marines after graduating from Whitney Young High School. He is involved in multiple veteran art groups, with art as an emotional outlet for him. He is a firm believer in the healing nature of art. Loza's primary muse is his city, Chicago, though he also draws inspiration from his heritage and military background. He always drew, but in 2018 he began drawing/painting digitally. During the COVID lockdown, he committed to completing a drawing each week. All of his work is painted on his Note20 phone using Artrage Vitae. Loza's participation in exhibitions includes the Oak Park Art League, Brushwood Center, the New Century Art Guild, and the Bridgeport Art Center.
@jerryloza4
https://www.facebook.com/p/jerrys-digital-art
Anna Nothnagel | Gold Winters Moonlight, Watercolor ground and watercolor on canvas, 20 × 26 inches
Anna Nothnagel is a multi-media artist, poet, and retired Navy veteran. Her work uses digital art, calligraphy, watercolor, acrylic and oil paint. In addition, she creates with repurposed and natural materials in her quest to upcycle and reduce waste. Nothnagel received a degree in graphic arts and design from Benedictine University and took fine arts courses from Downers Grove North and College of Dupage. She teaches classes to empower fellow veterans to discover the healing power of artistic expression. She has exhibited at Brushwood Center, with the New Century Art Guild, the Hines VA Art Show, the Lemont Artists Guild, among others.
@annanicolearts
https://www.facebook.com/p/Anna-Nicole
Ramona Pozek | Rustic Petals, 2022, Mixed media (acrylic, alcohol pen, pastels, watercolor crayon, gelatos sticks) on paper, 14 x 11 inches (24 x 18 framed)
Ramona Pozek is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, filmmaker, performer, and U.S. Army veteran. As Co-Founder of the Veteran Art Tribe, she channels her lived experience and creative vision into empowering fellow veterans through the healing power of artistic expression. Pozek was born into a military family and was raised around the world. At 17, she enlisted in the Army as a Medical Logistics Specialist. Primarily self-taught as a visual artist, she works across a wide range of mediums including acrylics, watercolor, pastels, photography, collage, and doll-making. Her work explores the intersectionality of womanhood, mental illness, physical disability, and trauma. A visual disability altered her artistic process but deepened her exploration of internal landscapes and non-traditional methods. Ramona holds a Master’s in Film and Television from Regent University, studied Theater and Communications in undergrad and earned a B.A. (Cum Laude) from Governors State University.
https://ramonapozek.wordpress.com/
@ramonapozek
https://www.facebook.com/ramona.pozek
Riverside Town Hall exhibitions feature work by area artists, celebrating the exchange of support and generosity between the community of Riverside and the Riverside Arts Center.
To purchase art from this exhibition, please contact the Exhibitions Director Joanne Aono jaono@riversideartscenter.com