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The Visual Art Department is pleased to announce the upcoming Best of Ninth Grade Show - celebrating work created by Class of 2028! The show will be on view from January 15-28th.Works included represent Fall 2024 classes: Traditional Drawing, Experimental Exploration, 2D Design, and Art Awareness.A closing reception will take place on January 28th, in the 2nd Floor Gallery, from 3:30-5:30pm. Parents, families, and friends of family are welcome to attend. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. We hope you can join us!
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Greetings! Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a great, restful and relaxing holiday.
The PVA Show- HSPVA's Spring Fundraiser is Friday, January 24, 6:00-9:30pm, at the Julia Ideson Library. The PVA Show is HSPVA Friends’ annual auction party and gallery show. It’s your only chance each year to bid on student art, and there are lots of other great deals to be had on restaurants, sports/theatre tickets, etc. Proceeds benefit Creative Writing, Theatre, and Visual Arts.
This Spring we will have the Best of Freshmen Work, the Junior Scholarship Show and Senior Shows. The seniors have been told the schedule and we will announce the whole schedule soon. Senior show openings are every Thursday afternoon from 3:30-5:30 once we get started. Students may view the work during the school day and we visit the gallery as a group every Friday.
We will announce the reception date for the Freshman Show and the juniors have been told about the process to apply to the junior scholarship show. They should be researching schools that they are interested in attending.
Welcome Mr. Ahern to our team! He is teaching 9th grade sculpture and elective sculpture. Ms. Majithia is now a full time teacher at Episcopal High School! Congratulations!
Saj is being recognized this January in Miami for his accomplishments in art by YoungArts National Competition! A huge success!
Thank you to Maya, Siyan, Nate and Faina for helping this week with the Magnet Open House.
Cheers!
Mr. Waddell and Art Department
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November/December 2024
Greetings! Happy Holidays! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Winter! Happy New Year! It is all going to fly fast.
We start Portfolio Reviews on Monday. We are excited to see the artistic growth and development among the students.
As we reflect on this past semester, we are so thankful for many things. We have found success and good community vibes with our new consultants- Ms. Bolduc, Mr. Luckett, Mr. Lopez and Mr. Alvizures. Ms. Bolduc continues our strong printmaking department with organization and good cheer. Mr. Luckett is always enthusiastic and loves being here. The kids are happy and thriving in photo-land. Mr. Lopez has built a good relationship with the new ninth graders and their drawings look strong. Mr. Alvizures is upholding rigor, research and challenging the kids in welding. I am also looking forward to announcing new consultants in the spring.
It has also been a privilege to work with Mr. Haynes, our student teacher. He is getting to know the students and continues to work with them at different levels.
We want to thank the Kinders for our brand-new computer lab. It is being set up. Thanks to the patience of our students. Technology is available in HISD. Ms. Patel is always a saint for helping us with the constantly evolving technology and upkeep!
The Middle School Workshops wrapped up today. Thanks to all of our dedicated student helpers that organized and facilitated our classes. Mr. Gray and I saw lots of great things happening over the past few weekends. It is a positive experience for our students to be in the classroom- on the other side! Thank you to HSPVA Friends and the parents from the Art Guild. We could not do this event without you all.
Upcoming opportunities for the students involve the Teen Show at the Contemporary Arts Museum, the PVA Show (Print Show) and Scholastics.
With kindness,
Mr. Waddell
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November 2024
We are almost in holiday season! It is going to be fast and furious!
Things to look forward to:
November 7- we open a new show in the gallery that features 9th grade design (Fowler), 10th grade ceramics (Majithia), elective textiles (Christman) and elective props class (Fowler). We will provide more details as to the live performance work that Ms. Fowler is organizing with her Props and Scripts class for this exhibition.
November 13 is an art guild meeting.
Nov 2 and Nov 16 are Middle School Workshop dates. Thank you to Mr. Gray, the Art Guild and the current students for putting energy into this event that exposes Middle School Students to the program, school and more art experiences. We truly value our students input and help with this fundraiser and experience.
Portfolio Reviews start Monday, November 18th. Students should be present and ready to show their work, journals and calendars. If a student is out during this time, please email the Chair at hwaddell@houstonisd.org
We were able to take the students out for a whole day- to the Blaffer Art Museum at UH, the Moody Art Center at Rice University, and the Silos at SITE Gallery at Sawyer Yard. Thank you to Volker Eiselle, Katherine Veneman, Lauren Cross and the tons of tour guides who showed us all the spaces. It was nice that artists met us at the Silos to talk about their own work. This includes Nathaniel Donnett, Patrick Renner, Garland Fielder and Jeff Forster.
Ms. Phillips got to visit Washington D.C for the Arts Schools Network annual conference. Mr. Waddell was recognized for his leadership in the arts through the MFAH.
Mr. Waddell and Ms. Phillips thank the Art Guild for hosting the parents at the last meet and greet. It was wonderful to open the first series showcase and talk to parents!
Mr. Lopez currently has a show at Box13! Mr. Glover has a show at UH Downtown! Mr. Sherrard and Ms. Pye are part of the Texas Biennial.
Thanks to all of our art aides for always being present and helpful! Andrei, Elijiah, Lauren, Nate, Nasya.
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No one in class rooms at lunch, before or after school unless signed up and in a lab with teacher and has permission.
No one after 4 pm in halls. Must be downstairs in Commons to be picked up.
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October 15
Gallery
Art Guild meeting tonight
6:15 is gallery talk, HSPVA gallery
6:45-8 pm Visual Art Parent Social Uber Lounge 1414 Texas 1st Floor Clubroom
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TIM GLOVER: LIGHT HOUSE
OCTOBER 17 - DECEMBER 12, 2024
Please join us for a public opening reception
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 | 5-7 P.M.
The O’Kane Gallery is proud to present new work by Houston artist Tim Glover in his exhibition Tim Glover: Light House. A sculptor, predominantly working in steel, Glover has exhibited in Houston since the 1980s with numerous solo and group exhibitions. His public commissions include a 2009 work, Community Tree, at Acres Homes Multi Service Center in Houston, Houston Metro Rail Stations at Preston Street and Main Street Square, and The Children’s Museum, Houston. His work Healing Nature is also included in the Public Art University of Houston System's collection. The artist recently retired from the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Light House is an exhibition of large and small steel sculptural works that include integrated light elements. Glover’s ability to create works in steel that range from intimate dioramas such as a miniature stage set or a leaning light house to large anthropomorphic shapes draws viewers into unique sometimes enigmatic worlds accentuated and enlivened by their light elements.
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Here is a link to volunteer for this event!
https://www.bayoucityartfestival.com/volunteer-opportunities
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The Houston Public Library is excited to announce this year's launch of its Get Graphic! Comic Creation Contest for Tweens and Teens. This year the contest runs from July 1st to October 31st. with a reception held at the Vinson Neighborhood Library on November 16th for all participants. Participants who are interested must be in grades 6th to 12th and can enter alone or in teams of up to four people. Submissions will be divided into two groups, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12. Prizes will be awarded to 1st , 2nd , and 3rd place winners for each group and will be announced at the reception.
This year we welcome our keynote speaker Kayla Miller, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Click graphic novel series and co-author of its spin-off series Besties. An RSVP invitation will be sent to participants once an entry is received. Participants will receive a copy* of Kayla Miller's newly published work, Break, and have the opportunity to have it signed at the reception. *While Supplies Last
Comics must be at least four pages, but no more than 14 pages. Entries can be sent by mail or submitted to any HPL Location alongside a completed Entry Form. For schools, please contact to arrange a pick-up.
For further program details and rules please follow this link: What is Get Graphic contest for teens?
Throughout the months of July - October, we will also host Illustration Workshops at various libraries for any budding comic artist to practice and gain tips. These programs are free and geared for tweens and teens. For registration and more information visit our Events Calendar: Events - Reservations - Visit us (houstonlibrary.org)
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We had a student win this once...so it could be worth entering!
I’m getting in touch with you to make you aware of the Anthony Quinn Foundation Scholarship program.
The AQF Scholarship is an annual competition for high school students that provides funding for the awardees to attend summer intensive arts programs. These scholarships provide an incredible opportunity for talented students from all artistic disciplines to engage in immersion experiences.
This is a competitive awards program. To succeed, applicants must demonstrate exceptional talent, dedication and a strong commitment to personal artistic growth and must be enrolled in high school or officially registered as a home-schooled high school student. Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges, comprised of professional artists and art educators who are independent of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
We would appreciate it if you could share this amazing scholarship opportunity with students who wish to pursue their creative dreams! To learn more about the AQF Scholarship, please visit https://aqfoundation.org/scholarships. If you have any questions please contact me at mariela@aqfoundation.orgSincerely, -
Dear Community,
We have made it to October! I want to thank the Art Guild, the art parents, and the college representatives for making Third Coast possible. We had a productive, amazing event. We are so lucky to have such talented 11th and 12th graders. The work looked impressive throughout the department, including the printmaking room, the multipurpose room and the ceramics room. We are fully underway with our Sophomore/Junior buddies and the Freshmen/Senior buddies events on Fridays during journal time. The underclassmen were able to talk to their partners and learn more about Third Coast. We also got to share work with the underclassmen before we took everything down.
Mr. Gray has met with students and parents who were interested in the Europe trip for Summer 2026. If anyone else has inquiries about this special and unique opportunity, please email him.
Mr. Gray will also be in charge of this year's Middle School Workshops and training our current students to help out with this. Workshops are November 2 and 16.
Please help us return all of our fieldtrip forms for our big fieldtrip that is at the end of October. I am excited to have a department wide, all-day fieldtrip and to work with local art professionals. This should be a fun-filled day.
Thank you to our wonderful art aides who help with daily tasks and keeping us organized in the department.
The sophomore show comes down soon. It recieved lots of compliments. It was up during our Third Coast Event and Carnaval. The next show is class-based and will feature specific classes across all grade levels. This show will be up during the all school musical!
Sincerely,
Mr. Waddell
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Reasons to Attend a Pre-College Program
- The experience allows students to understand a college campus, travel alone, navigate a new city, and the transportation of that region.
- The experience allows students to gain more information on a potential college choice- whether they realize that school is a good fit or not a good fit! This is a valuable lesson!
- The experience gives college educators and art schools a reason to advocate for your child when they apply to college. This could lead to scholarship opportunities .
- Your child meets other students across the country that share the same interests!
- Make artwork under a fresh perspective.
- Learn new mediums! We had students learn glass blowing last summer!
- Resume builder. This experience shows that your child is passionate about the arts and shows that you are supportive of their talents. Scholarships and exhibits that stem from this experience can be added onto the resume.
- This experience keeps your child engaged in art over the summer.
- Your child will gain confidence. They can show off! Our students are at the top level. Art colleges love our students and our program.
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October 10th is install day for 9th drawing, 10th photo, printmaking, elective painting, 11th drawing
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September 17, 2024
Re: Fall Fieldtrip
Dear Parents,
Thank you for supporting us in our endeavor to take our kids on a full-day art fieldtrip! This year, we have the exciting opportunity to take everyone out of the building to see art from 9:00am -3:30pm on Friday, October 25. This is a great time for everyone in the art department to spend the day together including our consultants! We are building community throughout the grade levels and making connections between AM and PM art kids! We will visit the Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston, the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University and the Silos at Sawyer Yards. We are working closely with all of these institutions to get special, educational tours.
The Blaffer Museum at UH is showcasing the Texas Biennial. We will also view Makeshift Memorials, Small Revolutions and receive a special campus tour of the public art! Ms. Pye and Mr. Sherrard are included in the Biennial and might give us some personal insight!
The Silos are a unique experience displaying installation art in abandoned grain silos. We will visit the eighth iteration of this series, called Solid State- A Celebration of the Material World. The curator, Volker Eisele will guide us through the space and talk about the curatorial process. Houston based participating artists will join us to talk about their Silo spaces and artwork. Alum Patrick Renner is included in this line-up!
At the Moody Center for the Arts, we will view Do Ho Suh: In Process. It will be of special interest to art students since the emphasis is on the artist's studio practice and working process rather than "final" artworks.
Since the pandemic, we have not taken a department wide fieldtrip. We have gone on a few trips to the MFAH with AM and PM groups separately. Therefore, this will be a unique and special day. This day requires that students miss their academic block. I will communicate with these teachers. I encourage the students to talk with teachers before the fieldtrip to make sure they are in good standing and on the road to success, to ensure that we have a stress free, art filled day. It is an expectation that our students attend this educational trip that ties into our curriculum.
Sincerely and with kindness,
Mr. Waddell
Chair of the Visual Art Department
Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
713-942-1960
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We will be going on an all-day, department fieldtrip to the Moody Center for the Arts, the Blaffer Art Museum and the Silos at Sawyer Yards. That will take place on October 25th! Stay tuned for details!
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June 2026 France & Italy trip!! Students and their families are invited to our 2026 trip. We'll be heading to Paris, Venice, Florence, & Rome. We are very excited to take students abroad to experience a trip of a lifetime. We'll be having a meeting in September. Whether you're interested in attending this meeting or not, please fill out this form so we can get a gauge of interest. :) -
September 2024
Dear Parents,
We have had a great first few weeks!
The 9th grade and 12th grade have been meeting on Fridays during journal time to continue our Senior Freshmen buddies, which should help acclimate the new students. We have also now started sophomore/junior buddies. We hope this new Friday tradition will help us blend the department and everyone will know each other a little bit better.
We have opened two shows in the gallery this year. The Best of Senior Work displayed the class of 2025. The Best of Junior Show is currently on view and highlights work that the kids have chosen as favorite pieces from the Spring Semester and Summer. It is a diverse set of pieces that show off Mr. Gray's class of mixed media and shaped canvases, Ms. Toussaint's painting class and Ms. Majithia's ceramics class. We hope this inspires the current sophomores to strive in these lab-based classes! The HISD Fine Arts Professional Development will be hosted at our campus and all the Fine Arts teachers will get to see this work!
We also habve welcomed Cameron Haynes to the department. He is our new student teacher who will be with us until December. Mr. Haynes is from the University of Houston!
We have 5 students helping as art aids department this year. We are so thankful for their help.
At the end of September, we host our Third Coast College event. Juniors and Seniors will show their portfolios to many college representatives over the course of 3 days. If you are a parent and want to get involved, please contact HSPVA Friends about joining the Art Guild and serving breakfast and lunch to the college reps. The ninth and tenth grade students will be allowed to watch this event over those days and observe what they will be doing as upperclassmen. Everyone should pay attention to these colleges, as most of them offer Pre-College Summer Programs. Many of our students are interested in these extracurricular events that are great resume builders!
Ms. Fowler has talked to the whole department during Art Homeroom about entering Young Arts. If you are 10th-12th grade, we encourage you all to enter.
Let's hope that we get some cool weather soon!
Cheers,
Mr. Waddell
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Dear HSPVA Visual Art Families!
We are back and ready to go! As I reflect on last year, we had many successes in the department. The students are hardworking and dedicated. We saw so much individual artistic growth over the year. Thank you to all the parents, who support and nurture their child’s talents. I am look forward to working with the students.
We welcomed Mr. Gray as our full-time sculpture teacher and our sophomore level advocate. It was a smooth transition as he was always willing to jump into any role. He has reignited an excitement around welding and mixed media. He comes with an expertise in teaching art history at a college level! Many of his assignments brought a new energy into the students’ work including shaped canvas paintings!
Ms. Phillips was named Teacher-of-the-Year on our campus. This was an amazing accomplishment, and we are proud of her recognition among her fellow teachers. Ms. Phillips demonstrates leadership, kindness, patience and diplomacy among her colleagues and her students. She is a wonderful guide and mentor to the 9th graders, getting them acclimated to our program. Incoming students are in great hands!
Ms. Fowler stepped into the senior advocate position. She has challenged and upped the ante for our most advanced students. The seniors had some of the cleanest and most professional looking thesis shows. They were well curated, labeled and had professional statements to accompany the work. We had weekly gallery talks, where seniors explained their work to the underclass students. In addition, seniors had a culminating, pop-up show of their legacy pieces in the multi-purpose room. Ms. Fowler invited a handful of esteemed guests and alum to campus to reflect on their time. This also led to an exhibit at Jardin, a business owned by Isabel Wilson, designer and former consultant.
Lastly, I loved working with the juniors! These students had a great year. I could not have been more thrilled to return to my role as the junior level advocate. Junior year is the most fun, challenging and pivotal year. I look forward to seeing their senior shows and I am crossing my fingers for their Young Arts applications.
A few other highlights include our social at Discovery Green, our consultant celebration pop-up show and the sophomore collaboration with the music department.
We welcome new consultants Mr. Luckett (10th Grade Photography), Mr. Alvizures (Elective Welding), Ms. Bolduc (Printmaking) and Mr. Lopez (9th Grade Drawing)
This year, we are trying some new programming with our gallery. After our grade level showcases, we will have three shows that highlight different classes and mediums. These shows will be all inclusive across grade level. We want kids to participate and enter shows and add to their resume!
Among award highlights include Luna Yepez (Class of 2024) Silver Key for Fashion in Scholastics and Saj Baldwin Evans McNallan (current sophomore) was the recipient of the 2024 Texas Young Masters Award.
Sincerely and with kindness,
Mr. Waddell
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All art seniors are required to enter. This is part of the fall curriculum. However, if you are a 10th or 11th grade, you are also encouraged to check out this opportunity on your own! Grade level advocates can mentor you in the process as well. For seniors, Ms. Fowler will guide you step by step and this is part of ISA! We have had many winners!
The YoungArts application for 2025 is now open! The application will be open until October 17, 2024.
For many young people, applying to YoungArts may be the first step in affirming “I am an artist.” Young Arts support artists across 10 disciplines at all stages of their development, starting from that critical moment when they decide to pursue a life in the arts and continuing throughout their careers. Since our founding in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison, our mission has been to identify exceptional young artists, amplify their potential, and invest in their lifelong creative freedom.
Our signature program is an application-based award for emerging artists ages 15–18 or in grades 10–12 from across the United States.
Applicants have the chance to receive:
- Cash awards of up to $10,000
- Mentorship by accomplished artists
- A lifetime of creative and professional support
- A peer network of distinguished artists
- Nomination for U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts
- National recognition
- Scholarship opportunities via our Student List Service
YoungArts’ 10 disciplines include:
- Classical Music (Classical Instrumental and Composition)
- Dance (African, Ballet, Choreography, Hip Hop, Indian, Jazz, Mexican Folkloric, Modern/Contemporary, Spanish, Tap)
- Design (Architecture, Interior, Product, Fashion and Graphic Design)
- Film (Narrative, Animation, Experimental and Documentary)
- Jazz (Instrumental, Composition and Percussion)
- Photography (Black & White, Color, Digital and Mixed Media)
- Theater (Spoken and Musical Theater)
- Visual Arts (Ceramics, Drawing, Multi-Media, Painting, Performance and Sculpture)
- Voice (Classical, Jazz, Popular and Singer-Songwriter)
- Writing (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Play, Poetry, Script, Short Story and Spoken Word)
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Congratulations to this year's senior ambassadors for Visual Arts!
- Kennedy Brown
- Marleny Gomez
- Lauren Loth
- Isabella Roman
- Andrei Yurashevich
- Aileen Zhang
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If you are a parent and would like to get involved with the art department, we have plenty of opportunities.
Please reach out HSPVA Friends
Opportunities include:
-Third Coast-our biggest event of the year that impacts Juniors and Seniors. Third Coast is the chance for students to show off their work, receive portfolio reviews from college representatives and earn scholarships. If you are a Freshperson or Sophomore parent, get involved now and see the excitement. (end of September, Wednesday/Thursday/Friday during school)
-Middle School Workshops (two Saturdays in October)
-transporting work for scholastics, rodeo
-PVA Show- Spring fundraiser where we sell prints
-Jung Center Show, (summer)
-attending fieldtrips
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VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT
