November 1, 2024

Good afternoon Visual Arts Guild! We hope everyone had a fun, safe Halloween. November brings one of our biggest events, College Showcase, and we have started working on the Visual Arts Winter Market and the 2025 5x7! Read on for details ...

Students, be sure to check the digital call board for the latest opportunities, contests and workshops. 

This week: 

• Just added! Texas A&M Commerce is hosting an Art Day November 9. If you ever wanted to work with raku or cast bronze, you should check out this workshop. Plus, you get crew hours!
  
• November 12 is the deadline to apply for a vendor spot in the Visual Arts Winter Market. Check out the online form for all the details and requirements. The market will be December 11-13 from 12-1:30 p.m. throughout the Zero Floor. All students are eligible to participate but space is limited.
• November 14 is the deadline for juniors and seniors to enter one piece into the Blueprint Gallery's 7th annual Dallas Young Artist Exhibition. Prizes up to $5000 are awarded.  
• The Visual Arts Guild is looking for 8-10 students to design a small holiday card for the Visual Arts Winter Market. Designs must be 5.5" x 4" or 5.5" x 4" or smaller and should include a winter or holiday theme or design. Submit your designs to btwvisualarts@gmail.com by November 22.
• The National PTA arts program Reflections opens this month. Students are encouraged to submit an original work of art based on the 2024-25 theme "Accepting Imperfection." Categories include Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. You do not need to create something new for Reflections. You may have a finished piece that addresses the theme. Monetary prizes are awarded at the local level, and students have the chance to progress to regional, state and national competitions. 

Do you have a truck, trailer, van or SUV that we can use to transport several large sculptures from school to Dallas City Hall on November 15? If you're a night owl, we also need help tearing down the installation starting at midnight November 16. 

Email btwvisualarts@gmail.com if you have a vehicle and/or can volunteer in any capacity. 

College Showcase is November 21-22. 

If you can volunteer:

• We need volunteers Wednesday, November 20 - Friday, November 22 to help decorate, set up hospitality suites, greet guests and direct them to classrooms, feed students, and in general, be on campus to pitch in.

If you can donate:

• Thank you to everyone who purchased items off our Amazon Wishlist! If you'd still like to donate, we need a few food items for our guest hospitality suite and the November 21 gallery reception.

If you have connections:

• We have College Showcase sponsorships that start at $500. Showcase sponsors help provide meals, snacks and gift bags to our faculty, students, college reps and guests. In exchange, sponsors will have their name or business name and logo on our website, newsletter and any Showcase collateral.    

If you are a 9-11th grade parent, please consider volunteering. We like our senior parents to be able to enjoy the week with their students whenever possible. Thank you for supporting this exciting annual event!

The Class of 2026 committee is hosting a Junior Jump Start meeting at 6:30 p.m. on November 7 in the BTW library. Learn essential and practical tips to help your child succeed in their senior year. RSVP on the PTSA website. You can include questions for the panel on your RSVP form.

Seniors, look for a link to confirm your Showcase lunches. The Visual Arts Guild provides lunch to seniors on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22. Students will be able to confirm their lunch and indicate any dietary restrictions. We cannot provide individual meals, but we will have options.

Senior yearbook ads are due Friday, November 15. Also, yearbook prices go from $70 to $75 on November 15. Get your yearbook and create or confirm your ad on the Jostens website.

The next Visual Arts Guild meeting is Tuesday, November 12 following the PTSA. The PTSA meets at 6 p.m. in the Commons. The guild meeting will follow. Location TBA. 

• November 5: No school
• November 6: Piano Recital, Black Box, 6 p.m.
• November 7: Junior Jump Start, BTW Library, 6-8 p.m.
• November 12: PTSA, BTW Commons, 6 p.m. Guild meeting will follow. Location TBA.
• November 12: Coffee House Concert by BTW Guitar Ensemble, Black Box, 7-9:30 p.m.
• November 14-15: Evening of Dance, MAT, 7-9 p.m.
• November 15: Musical Theatre Fall Showcase, Black Box, 6-8:30 p.m.
• November 18: Showcase Week

Check the school's DISD calendar for all the details.

Visual Arts Guild at BTWHSPVA

2501 Flora St.

Dallas TX 75201