News Notes

Students Create Mural at Texas School for the Deaf

Looking for a way to give back to the community, members of the Student Art Guild at the Blanton Museum planned and painted an amazing mural in the main corridor at the Texas School for the Deaf. From conception to completion, the mural took a year-and-a-half to do. Leading the team of student artists were Beth Ferguson, a graduate student in UT’s art department, and Maria Indelicato, an undergraduate in the same department. Beth’s background in planning and design meshed perfectly with Maria’s position as a Blanton officer and volunteer organizer, says Suzanne Philley Moore, the Blanton’s university programs coordinator, who oversaw the project. The three worked closely together to drum-up student volunteers who logged hundreds of hours creating the mural. The finished piece —which is eight feet high and 100 feet long!— depicts silhouettes of students and instructors engaged in learning. Interestingly, the silhouettes are of the real people: the artists posed students and teachers in front of spotlights and then traced the silhouettes on the wall and painted them in. The result is a brightly painted explosion of personality and color—exactly what the artists had in mind for the kids. “Most of [the Texas School for the Deaf students’] information comes through their eyes, so we really wanted to make sure that this was visually stimulating and a pleasing environment,” Suzanne tells us. It obvious worked, because “Once the colors went on the wall, there was an immediate mood change in the hallway [at the school]…and once the pictures and the figures started going up, the kids started pointing and signing,” she says. The artists held a completion party on May 22, but still had a bit of work to do when we went to press—mainly varnish and other finishing touches. “I just feel like it’s important for the Blanton be involved in these kinds of projects,” Suzanne says. “And also it just seems like a great opportunity for these wonder talented students to give something back.” We couldn’t agree more!

Austin Kids Raise Funds for Nepalese School

Eighth graders at the Austin Waldorf School waved tennis rackets for a good cause: helping kids in Nepal receive an education. Back in April, the students held a tennis clinic to raise money for the Nabha Deepti School in Kathmandu, Nepal. The kids wanted to raise the money to honor their teacher, Steven Roy. The Polo Tennis and Fitness Club donated court time, while four instructors —three with ties to Nepal—donated their expertise. In the end, the kids raised $1,200. The money will go to support the small school, which educates orphaned and indigent children in Nepal. The kids intend to continue their fundraising efforts throughout the year. For more information on how you can contribute or get involved, email Fran Tatu at flowerfran2004@yahoo.com.

Westake High Scores Second Consecutive Presidential Scholar

For the second year in a row, Westlake High School has produced a Presidential Scholar. Abhinav Golla, a senior, has been named one of 121 such scholars in the country. Presidential Scholars are chosen based on superior academic achievements, leadership qualities, personal character, and participation in community and school activities. Abhinav received perfect scores on both the ACT and SAT exams. At school, he is involved in the Latin Club, orchestra and Mu Alpha Theta, the honors math club. He also is president of the Medical Explorer Post, which is a group of students who explore medicine at the Austin Heart Hospital. He plans to attend Stanford University in the fall. Last year, Westlake Senior Christina Chang, who now attends Princeton University, also was named a Presidential Scholar. “For one school to have Presidential Scholar for two consecutive years is truly amazing,” Dale Whitaker, the communications director for the Eanes Independent School district, tells us. We think it’s fabulous and congratulate both Abhinav and Westlake high on the achievement!

Kids’ Entertainers Buy Hideout Theatre

In a bold move, a group of Austin-based kids’ entertainers have purchased The Hideout Theatre. For the past decade, the downtown Austin establishment has been home to improvisational comedy shows and instruction. But in April, the original owner of The Hideout chose not to renew the lease. So the kids’ entertainers stepped in. “We knew that if we didn't step up to take over the theater, improv in Austin would probably never get another chance to be downtown,” new owner Roy Janik said in a press statement. All but two of the six new owners have ties to the entertainment industry: Janik and Kareem Badr are founding members of Parallelogramophonograph and co-producers of the Out of Bounds Improv Comedy Festival, while Jessica Arjet is the founder of the Flying Theatre Machine, which produces improvisational comedy shows for children. Other owners include comedy instructor Andy Crouch, artistic designer Kaci Beeler and financier Michael McGill. The new owners plan to increase the number of comedy productions at the theatre, while also offering more comedy classes. Ms. Arjet also tells us that there will be lots of children’s programming! “This will give us a permanent base to run a children's improv program,” she says. “We intend high quality shows, exciting classes and other events geared towards the development of children's cultural lives in Austin.” The group plans to hold a family-friendly grand opening show and kick-off party on June 7th from 2-4 p.m.—and we’re told there will be lots of cake and prizes!

Local Authors Encourage New Talent

The Delacorte Dames and Dude Society wants you! The group, comprised of local authors who have published books under Random House's Delacorte imprint, have formed a support group, of sorts, to assist unpublished writers in getting their work printed. On Saturday, June 13, the Society will present its first authors’ workshop: a question and answer panel entitled “Everything You Wanted to Know About Young Adult Literature But Were Afraid to Ask”. Author Sara Bird will moderate. This event will be a chance for young readers, parents, educators, prospective writers — anyone who is interested in [young adult] lit — to come and listen to us discuss our craft,” Jennifer Ziegler, author of Alpha Dog and the recently published How Not To Be Popular, tells us. “After the panel discussion, we will also open it up to Q&A from the audience and then sign books.” The event takes place at Book People at 1 p.m.