Who knew a simple pair of tennis shoes could be so beautiful and raise scholarship dollars at the same time. The Ms. Senior Mesquite Pageant organization is sponsoring this entry in the Virgin Valley Artists Association shoe contest that will be decided at today’s auction beginning at 4 p.m. at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.
Remember the Coyote decorating contest that swept the town a few years ago sponsored by the Virgin Valley Artists Association and the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery? You can still see many of the cute critters in various businesses around town.
Now the VVAA and Gallery have another contest designed to help raise scholarship funds for graduating high school seniors and they’re inviting the public to help them.
VVAA provided a simple pair of sneakers free of charge to businesses or organizations that wanted to try their hand at artful adornment worthy of winning a coveted prize package and the public’s adoration.
At the Gallery’s monthly reception scheduled for today at 4 p.m. a dozen or so contest entries will be auctioned off by Kelly Beeson to the highest bidders. Members of the public are welcome to bid on the sneakers and take home a piece of fun and fancy art, while filling scholars’ shoes with cash. Or, just stop by the Gallery and make a donation to the scholarship fund.
Every year VVAA offers scholarships to high school seniors in the Virgin Valley who wish to pursue post-high school training in the arts or art education. The amount of funding offered each year depends of the success of fundraising efforts throughout the year. In 2015, three seniors at Virgin Valley High School were each given $2,000 toward their future education.
“All of the applicants we gave funds to last year are doing very well in their studies,” Kathleen Birkholz said. She’s in charge of the scholarship program for the VVAA.
“We raised $1,580 in scholarship money during the Lucky 13 raffle last fall. We’re hoping for that much or more with this contest,” she said.
In addition, awards for this month’s gallery exhibit, Winter Wonderland, will be handed out at today’s reception. There are 24 beautiful entries in the current exhibit with Ray Pittman taking Best of Show for his ‘Winter on Cedar Mountain’ entry.
We Care For Animals decorated a pair of tennis shoes in the Virgin Valley Artists Association shoe contest designed to raise scholarship dollars for graduating Virgin Valley High School students. Entries in the contest will be auctioned off today at 4 p.m. at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. Photo by Barbara Ellesad.
Floyd Johnson won First Place for ‘Gathering Storm.’ Other winners include Lance Barr, second place, and Sandra Anderson, third place. Honorable mention awards go to Shauna Lee, Rita Fulmer, Diane Testolin, Patricia Nay, and Dawna Lanier.
VVAA operates the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery through member volunteer efforts, with their original art displayed in the gallery and offered for sale. The organization also sponsors adult art classes, operates a full-service pottery studio, and sponsors a series of free art classes for school-age children and free monthly classes for seniors. The VVAA art education program and community art projects have been recognized by Nevada Arts Council and NEA Art Works as outstanding community programs, deserving of state and federal funding. Numerous local businesses and individuals support to the organization through their generous donations and sponsorships.
The Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery is located at 15 W. Mesquite Blvd, Mesquite Nevada, open
Monday through Saturday, 10a-4pm. Call 702-346-1338 or visit the VVAA website
www.mesquitefineartscenter.com for more information.
