Retail as Art Returns

High-profile photography contest gives high school students taste of retail world

The 2014 edition of Retail as Art, an annual competition showcasing the best photographic talent in Dallas-area high schools, returns with a milestone: The organization will issue more than $10,000 in scholarships — double last year's amount.

Meanwhile, the number of participants has increased dramatically. This annual event is open to high school students, and their photos must exhibit a retail theme. Last year's contest drew more than 60 student participants and more than 200 submissions.

This year saw entries from 165 students and 21 schools. The awards (and scholarships) will be presented at a ceremony on April 9 at 129 Leslie, an event space in the Dallas Design District.

"We are humbled by the generosity and support of our clients, colleagues and business partners," said Mickey Ashmore, CEO of United Commercial Realty (UCR) and founder of Retail as Art.

In 2008, UCR created Retail as Art as a 5013c organization, to give back to the community. All proceeds benefit the UCR Retail as Art Fund, exclusively for educational and charitable purposes.

Participating students submitted their images by March 8. A panel of judges will gather on March 13 to choose the winners.

Another new twist: An Instagram category was added this year. "By adding Instagram, we are able to reach a larger group of student photographers," said Kendall Schiffler, UCR's marketing director. "Our goal is to interest more students by tweaking our format over time."

Judges include Evans Caglage, Dallas Morning News; commercial photographer Wade Griffith; Lisa Petty, DFW Style Daily; Samantha Sano, SWOON, the studio; Bernard Underwood, An Intimate Place; Jeyson Paez, @InstaDFW (Instagram judge); and this reporter.

The venture also has support from a group of bloggers who will serve as patrons to raise the program's profile: Cynthia Smoot, Oh So Cynthia; Betsy Mitchell, The Dallas Socials and Lip Gloss and High Heels; Jennifer Buxton, Real Posh Mom; Lea Ann Stundins, Mommy’s Wish List; and Courtney and Allison Edwards, Where Wear in the City.

The Retail as Art program culminates with a gallery-style exhibition and awards ceremony at 129 Leslie on April 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The event will showcase the top submissions, with hors d'oeuvre from Bolsa Mercado, tunes by DJ Blake Ward and the opportunity for students to mingle with judges and sponsors. Prints of the winning photographs will be on sale at the event.

Knot Royale by Michael McCallum, Cistercian Preparatory School, won first prize in the 2013 contest.

Photo by Michael McCallum

Knot Royale by Michael McCallum, Cistercian Preparatory School, won first prize in the 2013 contest.

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Season Announcement

Kitchen Dog Theater unleashes immersive 2025 season in new Dallas space

Kitchen Dog Theater presents Safe at Home

Photo by Jordan Fraker

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Seven years after announcing it had purchased a building in the Design District, Kitchen Dog Theater is finally ready to move into its new home.

The third and final production of its 2025 season — the theater company's 34th — will take place all around the new "Doghouse." The other two productions will follow the immersive format at non-traditional performance spaces that was established last season.

With three fully produced events that each run the gambit from captivating and gutsy to heartfelt and hilarious, the monthly New Works Festival Staged Readings Series returns, as does the 23rd annual PUP Fest, nurturing high school talent from all over DFW.

First up is the area premiere of Will Eno's Wakey, Wakey, directed by KDT's artistic director Tina Parker and starring KDT co-artistic director Christopher Carlos.

"Is it now? I thought I had more time." These first words in Will Eno's play are spoken by Guy, a man who knows, like all of us on some level, that he is about to die. The play questions why we are here and the journeys that everyone takes to eventually get to the same place. Performances will take place at Expo Park, 840 Exposition Avenue, and run February 7-23, 2025.

Production No. 2 is full of mystery: The title and performance location will be announced soon and run in March/April 2025.

The Happiness Gymby Ken Weitzman closes out the season in August 2025 (exact dates TBA).

This regional premiere is a joyous, experiential event based on the science of well-being. Participants take part in a curated theatrical experience meant to boost their sense of happiness, joy, and feelings of connection. This one-of-a-kind project will be the soft opening to Kitchen Dog’s new theater and will take place all over the entire facility, giving patrons unparalleled access to KDT’s new home.

From March to July 2025, the 26th annual 2025 New Works Festival will showcase four-to-five staged readings of the newest and most exciting local and regional playwrights working in contemporary theater today. Each reading will feature some of DFW's most accomplished actors and directors and will take place at different venues across DFW.

For its 23rd annual event, PUP Fest will feature six staged readings of jury-selected plays written by DFW high school students, featuring student actors directed by area professional directors. PUP Fest is the culminating event of Dallas Playwriting Arts Collective (D-PAC), a partnership with Dallas ISD and Junior Players. Performance location is TBA, but the event will happen June 7, 2025.

For more information, visit kitchendogtheater.org or call 214-953-1055.

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