April 2021 - Art from the Heart edition

Art from the Heart 2021 - a virtual Student Art Show & Fundraiser

Monday, April 19, marks the start of the 14th annual Art from the Heart Student Art Show & Fundraiser. Due to continued Covid-19 precautions, the event will be held virtually this year. Art from the Heart raises the funds necessary to continue Mary B. Austin’s PTA-supported fine arts program, which includes year-round, weekly art instruction for ALL students and weekly music instruction for 1st and 2nd grade students.
 
The event will take place online and includes an opportunity to view and purchase student art, as well as an auction featuring some amazing and unique Mary B. Austin experiences. All of the info you need for the event can be found in this newsletter, on the Art from the Heart web page, on the Mary B. Austin PTA Facebook page and the Art from the Heart Facebook event. We can’t wait for a full week of celebrating and supporting Mary B. Austin’s PTA-supported fine arts program!

Student Art Show - How it works!

Our student art show will be open from Monday, April 19-Friday, April 23 and can be found HERE. Here’s how it works:
Go to the Student Art Show anytime between Monday, April 19-Friday, April 23.

• Navigate through the site to locate your child’s grade level and teacher name.
• Once on your child’s class page, locate your child’s artwork, which is listed by first name, last initial.
• Jot down or take note of the number listed beside your child’s name. You’ll need this at checkout when you purchase the artwork.
• At the top of the class page, click “Purchase Art” to be taken to Checkout.
• Once on the checkout page, select a donation amount ($5, $10, $20, $50, or $100), and select your child’s number (the one you jotted down previously) from the drop down box labeled “Student Art Number.”
• Select “Add to Cart” and then navigate to the Cart to complete your purchase.
• Artwork purchased during the Art from the Heart Student Art Show & Fundraiser will be sent home following the event. Our art teachers are taking great care to get the treasured keepsakes home to parents/guardians in a way that prevents wrinkling or damage (i.e. not stuffed in backpacks).
• If a student’s piece of artwork is purchased more than once (perhaps by a parent/guardian AND by a grandparent or other relative/friend) then an additional piece of artwork created by the student will be sent home, along with the one featured in the art show.

Online Auction - How it works!

Would your student love to be a teacher for the day, or maybe even principal for the day?  Or maybe your student would enjoy the chance to smush a pie in a teacher's face?  How do you feel about a prime spot in the carpool line? The Art from the Heart 2021 online auction will provide the opportunity to bid on "teacher for the day" experiences, special Mary B. Austin privileges, and "pie in the face" opportunities, all in support of our PTA-supported fine arts program!  Here's everything you need to know about this year's Art from the Heart auction:

• The auction will be held on Facebook within the Art from the Heart 2021 event page. The direct link to the event is bit.ly/afthauction
• A description of each item that will be included in the auction will be posted tomorrow (Monday, April 19).
• The auction will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20 and close at 8pm on Thursday, April 22.
• There will be an individual post for each item on the event page once the auction begins. Bids will be made by commenting under the specific post for the item(s) you are interested in. Bidding will start at $10 for all items, and a minimum of $5 will be required for new bids.
• Bidding will close at 8pm on Thursday, April 22. The highest bid that is posted BEFORE 8:01pm will be the winner of the item. Any bids posted at 8:01pm and after will be invalid. Auction moderators will use timestamps on comments to verify the final winning bid on each item.
• Winners will be announced on the event page at 11 a.m. on Friday and instructions for payment will be provided at that time.
• All principal, assistant principal and teacher experiences (including pie in the face) will take place on May 19 before the end of the school year.
• Carpool fast passes and private parking spot opportunities will begin next school year (starting August 2021).

**Please remember that this is the first time the PTA has planned or executed a fully virtual event. We have worked hard to anticipate and plan for all aspects of the event and we are hopeful everything will go as planned. In the event of any hiccups, your patience is much appreciated.

We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to the following sponsors of the 2021 Art from the Heart Student Art Show & Fundraiser!
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Platinum Level - $1,000

• Austin Bradford, Merrill Lynch
• Anonymous

Silver Level - $500

• Aeiker Construction & Recreation
• Hancock Whitney Bank
• Michael Oliver

Partner Level - $250

• Caroline Alvarez Smith
• Bluebird Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc.
• Gulf Coast Elder Law, LLC (Stephanie L. Booth)
• Gulf South Asphalt
• Kendall & Marshall Hayden
• Louise Houston
• Lou Lou & Ra Ra (grandparents of Lila Aeiker)
• The Jansen Family
• BeautyCounter by Louise McCown
• New Hand Signs
• Spring Hill Presbyterian Church
• Jade & Brian Sullivan

$150

• John & Kay Aeiker

Supporter - $100

• Susan & Jack Cecil, grandparents of Sidney Cecil
• Mary Lee & Charles Gay
• Amanda & Charles Harris
• Daniel & Sara McGough
• Old Familiar Tattoo
• Fay Phillips
• The Law Offices of Teague and McBay
• Max & Pat Turner, grandparents of Caroline & Turner Bradford
• Micah & Hannah Wheeler
• Allen Wilcoxon & Pat Harrison
• Ryann & Buz Wilcoxon

Thank you volunteer committee!

A big shout out to the amazing Mary B. Austin parents who joined together to make Art from the Heart 2021 a reality!

• Hill Aeiker
• Stephanie Bradford
• Erin Cooke
• Crystal Couch
• Mary Lee Gay
• Johnny Peters
• Laura Scott
• Annie Strange
• Andy Rodriguez
• Ryann Wilcoxon

"Austin Artists" T-shirts

If you ordered a special edition "Austin Artists" t-shirt for your student(s), please have them wear their shirts on Friday, April 23 in celebration of Art from the Heart week! These shirts are official Mary B. Austin spirit shirts and can also be worn on Fridays during the rest of the school year (and future school years). We only have a few extras available, so check out the Mary B. Austin Spirit Store to snag one while they last.