In 1973, Rael joined the Marine Corps. He soon found himself in Egypt, part of a U.S. response to an escalating Arab-Israeli conflict. Operation Nimbus Moon involved clearing unexploded ordnance from the Suez Canal, a critical waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
With an honorable discharge, the Marine became a teacher but says he remained “a closet artist” until 2010, when he was commissioned to paint a mural. He had never used paints but accepted the challenge to focus on transitioning his childhood talents into adulthood. It had felt like a huge leap.
Rael’s wife pushed him to let his talents mature, then showcase his artwork. A friend introduced him to VFW Post 1 in Denver, one of the country’s oldest Veteran service organizations. The post’s Veterans Arts Council hosts one of the largest galleries in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe.
Inspired by the stories of friends and family, Rael worked on a Vietnam War series of paintings for the Veteran gallery. He didn’t serve in Vietnam but found healing in painting for those who did.
“Art is a means of therapy and a way to heal,” says Rael, explaining how it manages PTSD symptoms. “It helps me escape some of the things that I went through during my time in service. I forget about that world and go into my own world of expression, where I can just be me.”
That’s the world in which he feels most comfortable.
Known artistically as Katte Judd, she has been showing work at VFW Post 1 for the past six to twelve months after being introduced to the gallery through fellow exhibitor John Root. What first drew her in was the sense of community, a place where veterans could gather, support one another, and share their creative voices. What she discovered was something even deeper.
Katte has been creating photography for over five years, though she describes herself as having always been a photographer at heart. Like many artists, life came first. Family responsibilities took priority, and her passion was temporarily placed on hold. When her children entered high school, she finally had the space to pursue photography on a more serious level.
Her journey began in a fast-paced and emotionally complex environment, in marching band competitions. Over the years, Katte has taken thousands of photos, joking that she likely has more pictures of other people’s kids than their own parents do. Behind the humor is a refined skill set that includes working events without disrupting them, capturing meaningful moments without becoming part of the spectacle, and developing a deep sensitivity to how images of teenagers are shared and perceived.
Teen years are tough, and being a band kid brings its own challenges. That awareness taught her to look closely at details, backgrounds, and emotional context, sometimes choosing to heavily edit or scrap a photo altogether out of respect for the subject. Her care for the people she photographs creates work that feels deeply human, offering viewers a genuine emotional connection.
That same awareness now carries into Katte’s current photographic focus, American Revolutionary War reenactments on the East Coast. Traveling week to week, she documents reenactors on historic battlefields, capturing moments of waiting, preparation, and reflection. These images feel timeless, as if history is being relived and recorded at the same time, something no artificial recreation could replace.
She works closely with several reenactment groups including the Continental Marines Trevets Company, where she serves as a camp follower and media member, as well as the 6th Pennsylvania unit. These groups emphasize education and historical preservation, values that align naturally with her photographic eye. With her ability to understand both her subjects and their environment, her work preserves moments that feel authentic and lived.
How could you not be inspired when surrounded by men and women carrying muskets onto the battlefield dressed in uniforms from 1776?
As the United States approaches America 250, the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Katte is especially excited to continue documenting these living history moments.
Although Katte is a civilian, veterans have been a constant presence throughout her life. Her brother is a veteran, and her daughter, son, and nephew are all active military members. Through the Veterans Art Council, she has found a space where military and civilian experiences intersect through creativity, connection, and shared respect. As an artist and as a woman, she brings an added depth of insight and empathy that allows viewers to feel as though they are truly present in the moment she captures.
She speaks openly about how the VAC helps break down stereotypes surrounding veterans. Rather than defining members solely by their service, the Council highlights artists who also have families, jobs, struggles, humor, and a desire to leave a creative legacy.
As a civilian, Katte says, she is honored to be able to show her work beside such talented and creative military members.
The VAC gallery at VFW Post 1 holds particular meaning for her. As a photographer drawn to historical spaces, the building itself resonates deeply, but it is the atmosphere inside that has left the greatest impact and inspiration.
“When I first juried in and was accepted, I hoped to sell a few pieces. What I found instead was overwhelming encouragement and camaraderie. Somehow, the sales seemed less important than the stories of the artists showing beside you.”
One of Katte’s most meaningful photographs was taken in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during Remembrance Day weekend. The image captures a soldier waiting, a moment instantly recognizable to anyone with military experience.
“I love the haunting look of his eyes,” she explains. “What must he be thinking? The battle ahead, a sweetheart, the unknown. Ultimately only he knows.”
For Katte, a good photograph tells a story and leaves the viewer wanting more, and this image does exactly that.
In her own words, art gives her a way to tell a story with a picture that might just change the way you see the world around you.
Showing her work with the Veterans Art Council has given her the confidence to fully pursue her passion for photography.