The Lucky 13 Extravaganza is back! Virgin Valley Artists Association kicks off high season with a fundraising raffle to replenish its student scholarship fund. Thirteen prizes of original fine art, golf, dining, theatre, electronics and more are offered to lucky ticket holders who help support this raffle that funds scholarships for area high school seniors.
Wild West, David Bailey photo and Karron Knight beaded jewelry are one of the Lucky 13 Raffle prizes available at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. Photo by Linda Faas.
Lucky 13 Raffle winners could take home this Beauty and the Beast painting by Tom West. Raffle tickets are available at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. Photo by Linda Faas.
A Tea Pot and Cooker handmade by Mesquite artist Kathleen Birkholz is one of many prizes available through the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery Lucky 13 raffle that begins Nov. 2. Photo by Linda Faas.
Trail Ride, a pastel art piece by Ralph LeMaster was donated by Jan Stensland for the Lucky 13 raffle at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery beginning Nov. 2. Photo by Linda Faas.
The 13 raffle prizes are now on display at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. Raffle tickets are on sale at the front desk of the Gallery, $5 each. The Gallery is located at 15 W. Mesquite Blvd, and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Original art prizes have been donated by VVAA artists. Two major golf prize packages, each worth $1000+, include rounds of Mesquite golf, equipment, and gift certificates donated by our local golf courses. A 55” Vizio Smart HDTV prize is a popular reason for anybody to purchase $5 raffle tickets that help this good cause. The TV is offered for raffle through donations from Geno and Barbara Withelder, Dr Edward Ofori, and the members of VVAA, with assistance of WalMart.
Each spring VVAA offers scholarships to high school seniors in the Virgin Valley who intend to pursue advanced studies in art or art education. Scholarship size depends on the success of VVAA fundraising. This past spring VVAA awarded three outstanding college-bound seniors with $2000 each. Those awards were the largest ever provided by the organization and VVAA intends to continue giving significant scholarships to deserving students as long as it can raise funds to do so.
Raffle chairperson Karron Knight is excited about the generous prize donations from Mesquite businesses and individuals. “These are great prizes that will appeal to everybody,” Knight remarked. She looks forward to the drawing for raffle winners to be held Thursday, Nov. 19, 5 p.m. at a gala reception. Ticket purchasers need not be present to win.
The VVAA fundraiser ushers in the Lucky 13 National Small Works Exhibition. Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery has hosted a “small works” art exhibition since its opening in 2003. By limiting the size of the entries to 13 x13 inches, the gallery can accommodate the large number of entries that are submitted by artists from all over the U.S. The exhibition runs for two months and offers a cash purse of $1,300 in top prizes, the richest awards given by the VVAA. Lucky 13 Exhibition opens Nov. 2, and is displayed through Jan. 2, 2016. Winners of the competition will be celebrated at the Nov. 19 reception along with the drawing of raffle winners.
Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery is a City-owned facility, operated by Virgin Valley Artists Association. The non-profit organization staffs the gallery and its pottery studio with member volunteers. VVAA has earned recognition from Nevada Arts Council and NEA Art Works for its community art education program. VVAA is a member of the Greater Mesquite Arts Foundation Round-table of nonprofit groups that work for the cultural enrichment and educational betterment of our community. See www.mesquitefineartscenter.com for more information.
