Oh, Snap!

Retail as Art awards shine a light on bright young Dallas photographers

The fifth annual Retail as Art contest proved the future of Dallas' art scene is in good hands. United Commercial Realty (UCR), one of Texas' largest real estate services providers, awarded scholarships to nine talented high school students who best interpreted "retail as art" through photography.

Celebrants — including Sandi and Noah Chapman, Temple Ashmore, David Goltl, Mina Chang, Susan Friedman, Regina Bruce, Channing Cass, and Alexis and Duane Potter — gathered at Three Three Three First Avenue for an announcement party, where 50 of the 200 submissions were on display. Photographs ranged from abstracts of buildings and shoes to more focused images of workers and cars.

DJ Andre provided the background music while anxious contestants and their supporters snacked on small bites from Central Market, Neiman Marcus, Ocho and Applebee's. Then it was time for judges Evans Caglage (Dallas Morning News), Connie Dufner (Modern Luxury), Wade Griffith (Wade Griffith Photography) and Amy Locurto (I Heart Face) to announce the first-, second- and third-place winners, who received $1,000, $1,250 and $1,500 in scholarships, respectively:

First place: Michael McCallum
Second place: Abby Chang
Third place: Anna Delapaz

Notable contestants Mitchell Sawtelle, Demi Kelly, Jose Martinez, Stewart Schweinfurth, Camille Rivera, and Ximena Garica received $200 each in scholarships.

"Our fifth scholarship contest was a great success," said Mickey Ashmore, UCR president and CEO. "Our UCR team has discovered a meaningful mission that combines our passions: retail, art and education."

Jessica Donnelli, Mickey Ashmore, Regina Bruce

Photo courtesy of Retail as Art

Jessica Donnelli, Mickey Ashmore, Regina Bruce

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Fear the Dragon

Dallas theater will host a 6-hour live Dungeons & Dragons session

Photo courtesy of Shawn Gann

Theatre Three will present a Dungeons & Dragons fundraiser led by Shawn Gann on January 3.

The role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons seems to be all the rage in Dallas these days, and joining the fun will be local theater company Theatre Three, who will present a six-hour live Dungeons & Dragons session on Saturday, January 3.

The one-day-only event will feature a variety of well-known voice actors, guided by master storyteller Shawn Gann (Dragon Ball Super, One Piece, Star Wars, Ultraman, and Borderlands) as Dungeon Master.

Audience members will be able to watch the campaign unfold from beginning to end, or come and go as they please, as the players navigate the perils and pitfalls along the way as they complete their quest using their strength, smarts, and if need be, casting a spell or two.

Other participants will include Hayden Daviau, Caitlin Glass, Parker Davis Gray, Lydia Mackay, and Alejandro Saab, each of whom have extensive voice acting credits on their resumes.

The live campaign joins other ongoing or upcoming D&D-themed events in the area like Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest (taking place through at least February 1 in Plano) and Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern (taking place at Wyly Theatre, January 20-February 1).

The six-hour event — taking place from 3-10 pm, with a one-hour break for dinner — will feature snacks, drinks, and more in Theatre Three's lobby. There are also several restaurants and bars within walking distance for audience members to enjoy.

Tickets for the fundraising event for Theatre Three are on sale now at givebutter.com/60DRCN, ranging from $75-$100.

theater fundraisers performing-arts