Fine and Performing Arts at Vista


Spring 2025 Calendar of Events

FINE ART EVENTS

JANUARY 21 - MARCH 14 | Artist Jessica Ramirez, Fachadas
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January 21 - March 14, 2025
Palmetto Center for the Arts Gallery
Curated by Esteban Delgado

Fachadas: Narrativas arquitectónicas de tiempo y pertenencia explores the layered histories and emotional resonance of architectural facades in Argentina, intertwining themes of identity, memory, and decay. Through weaving and tufting techniques, I draw connections between the textured surfaces of aging buildings and the stories they hold, echoing the parallels between home and self. Influenced by the poetic graffiti and fortified structures I encountered, these tapestries delve into the interplay of protection and vulnerability, revealing how architecture embodies both personal and collective histories. By incorporating abstract wooden shutters and fragments of street text, the series bridges the physical and emotional, reflecting a dialogue between the lived experience and the enduring impact of place.


ARTIST TALK
Thursday, February 27, 11am-12pm
PCA Gallery


Presented by NVC Fine Art

FEBRUARY 28 | Tufting Workshop with Jessica Ramirez

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Exploring the Theme of Home through Collaborative Art


Friday, February 28
Session 1: 9am-12pm // Session 2: 1pm-4pm
Location: PCA 125
Limited spots, RSVP in AlamoExperience

Immerse yourself in the art of tufting as you explore the concept of “home” through abstract designs. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the basics of tufting as a creative medium, including how to use tufting machines safely and effectively. With guidance, you'll reflect on what home means to you and translate your ideas into a unique design. By the end of the workshop, we’ll join our individual pieces to create a collaborative artwork that reflects our shared visions. Participants can choose between two available sessions, 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm and all supplies will be provided.

Supported by Student Activity Fee

THURSDAY, MARCH 6 | Cosmic Art Night

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Presented by NVC Fine Art
Location: Palmetto Center for the Arts
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Free Admission

The NVC Fine & Performing Arts Department presents Cosmic Art Night! Materials and studios glow under ultraviolet lights creating a surreal, dreamy vibe while you explore the arts of ceramics, drawing, printmaking and dance. Professors and students will demonstrate the potter’s wheel and screen printing techniques on paper. Bring your own t-shirt to silkscreen.

All additional materials provided. 
Everyone is welcome: students, faculty, staff, and families!
All ages! No experience necessary!

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MARCH 24 - MAY 9 | BLUE: Water as Metaphor

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BLUE: Water as Metaphor
Sabra Booth and Sophie Sanders

March 24 - May 9, 2025
Palmetto Center for the Arts Gallery
Curated by Sabra Booth

Blue is a comprehensive body of Sabra Booth and Sophie Sanders’ work with the theme of water. Like a 19th century naturalist, Booth often sketches and paint flora and fauna on site. She uses these drawings as touchstones for her studio work. Design considerations are evident through the implementation of graphic line, negative space, actual texture, and limited color. Booth typically creates an interplay between the gestural fluidity of water media and the structural line work of drawing or printmaking processes. Since her graduate thesis show, she has explored the play of light and shadow, incorporating translucent cut-paper. Beauty and at times, humor have been tactics for conveying her thoughts. Underlying these concerns are reflections on personal identity. The materials she works with are often intrinsic to the content of the project. For instance, in her print, Frack House, she deeply embossed the print, rubbed with soil from the Eagle Ford Shale area. The richly textured strata of the ground’s vertical cross-section evoke the beauty of our planet’s subterranean realm. Since Northwest Vista College sits upon the artesian zone of the Edwards Aquifer, she will focus her work for the show on this relevant connection.

Water is change, water is movement, and water is healing.  Bodies of water compel an instinctual amniotic awe that alters our brainwave to expand our consciousness, compassion, and creativity.  The theme and aesthetics of water have been animating Sophie Sanders recent multidisciplinary artwork in cyanotype, painting, and printmaking as I respond to the precarious state of our survival on the planet due to climate change realities.  Using cyanotype on cloth, she experiments with light and gesture to produce dynamic compositions with human and natural forms.  Her recent work also explores the expressive potential of blue to signify emotion, nature, and cultural contexts. Booth and Sanders met while both living in New York City in the early 2000’s. They will collaborate on a cyanotype project for the exhibition, as well as displaying their own individual works.


Artist Talk
Wednesday, March 26, 1PM
PCA Gallery


Presented by NVC Fine Art

 

DANCE EVENTS

MARCH 6 | Dance Workshop with Versa-Style Street Dance

NVC Dance Guest Artist

Versa-Style Street Dance

Founded in 2005 by Los Angeles natives and co-artistic directors Jackie Lopez aka Miss Funk and Leigh Foaad aka Breeze-lee, Versa-Style Street Dance Company was created to promote, empower and celebrate the artistry of Hip Hop and street dance culture. Named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, Versa-Style is recognized for its electrifying performances and inspiring engagement activities for schools and local communities. Consisting of committed, highly skilled street dance artists and educators representative of the diversity and beautiful complexity of Los Angeles, Versa-Style Street Dance Company harnesses the exhilarating energy of street dance onto the concert stage for an unforgettable evening of dance.

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MOVEMENT WORKSHOP

Thursday, March 6 from 11AM-12:15PM in Dance Studio PCA-108

Supported by the Student Activity Fee

SATURDAY, MAY 10 | Dance @ Vista

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Dance@VISTA

Presented by NVC Dance

Performances by the NVC Repertory Dance Ensemble & Dance Choreographer in Residence.

Date:  Saturday, May 10
Time:  7:30pm
Location:  Palmetto Theatre

THINK YOU CAN DANCE? YOU CAN!
Learn about Vista's student-based dance company:
NVC Repertory Dance Ensemble

 

DRAMA  EVENTS

FEBRUARY 27, 28, MARCH 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 | You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

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Presented by NVC Drama &
Directed by Michelle Pietri

Location: Palmetto Theatre

Dates and Time:
-February 27, 28, March 1 at 7:30pm
-Sunday, March 2 matinee at 2:00pm
-March 6, 7, 8 at 7:30pm

Free Admission!

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner and (in a 1999 revision) Andrew Lippa. It is based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts.  The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form. Brief vignettes span the months from Valentine’s Day to Beethoven Day.
 
APRIL 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 - TBA Drama Production


Presented by NVC Drama

Location: Black Box Theatre
Dates: April 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12
Time: 7:30pm
Free Admission


MUSIC EVENTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 25 | Jack Stone Award Concert & Masterclass

Jack Stone Award logo_color.pngJack Stone Award for New Music

Presented by NVC Music

MASTERCLASS
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Time: 3:30pm
Location: PCA Recital Hall

JACK STONE AWARD for NEW MUSIC CONCERT
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Palmetto Theatre
Admission: Free


The Jack Stone Award for New Music is a national competition open solely to community college students exploring music composition. While many calls for scores by student composers exist, few opportunities are available specifically for community college students. Because the musical background and training of community college student composers differs from that of composition students at four-year institutions and conservatories, there is a need for career building opportunities that will enable them to achieve creative success and gain national recognition.

Original student compositions will be performed by Lux Musicae Chamber Ensemble.

APRIL 21 | NVC Chamber Singers & Instrumental Ensembles

NVC Chamber Singers
& Instrumental Ensembles


Presented by NVC Music
Directed by Dr. Minkyung Lee &
Dr. Sunbeam Choi

Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 7:00pm
Admission: Free
Location: Palmetto Theatre


NVC Music launched the first Chamber Singers group in the Spring of 2019 and had to convert their inaugural performance virtually due to COVID-19. Given the challenges endured in the past years, we're excited to introduce NVC Chamber Singers this semester. Dr. Minkyung Lee is thrilled to share outstanding choral repertoires with advanced singers to prepare and execute the Texas Two-Year College Choral Association Region V All-State Choir Auditions. The program offers a diverse repertoire, including The Boiling Hot Spring, Serenade, and the Extinguished Stars from Arensky's Three Quartets, Opus 57, sung in Russian. NVC Chamber Singers will explore a wide range of multiple languages of repertoire with different genres of music in a vibrant cross-cultural celebration. TaReKiTa by Reena Esmail, Gloria from "Missa Criolla" by Ariel Ramirez, Wide Open Spaces by Sarah Quartel, and Way Over in Beulah Lan' with this exciting arrangement of the traditional spiritual will be included in the program.

APRIL 22 | NVC Faculty Recital

The Aaron Prado Sextet presents
Great Jazz Composers: Duke, Monk & Mingus


NVC MUSIC FACULTY RECITAL
Presented by NVC Music

Join the Aaron Prado Sextet for a presentation of music by the three greatest composers of jazz history: Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Charles Mingus. With a three-horn front line and rhythm section, Prado will interpret historical jazz classics with original and modern arrangements.

Date: Tuesday, April 22
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Palmetto Theatre
Admission: Free


Reception sponsored by Friends of the Arts at VISTA

APRIL 23 | NVC Concert Choir & Solo Performances

NVC Concert Choir & Solo Performances


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Presented by NVC Music
Directed by Dr. Minkyung Lee


Date: Wednesday, April 23
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Palmetto Theatre
Admission: Free




APRIL 24 | Vista Jazz Ensemble

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Vista Jazz Ensemble

Presented by NVC Music
Directed by Dr. Aaron Prado


Date: Thursday, April 24
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Palmetto Theatre
Admission: Free




  • The Palmetto Center for the Arts opened in 2009 as a product of community leadership, vision and unwavering determination to bring fine and performing arts to the Northwest area of San Antonio. The arts complex offers the finest facility and programs to those who join us in celebrating the arts.

    The fine and performing arts programs at Northwest Vista College engage students and enrich their skills needed to give life to creative impulses—on stage, in the studio, and in the concert hall. Our emerging artists interact and learn from community professionals and visiting artists from across the country and abroad. 

  • We believe that the arts have always been and always will be a meaningful force in human life. Northwest Vista College is dedicated to making the arts a living presence within our neighboring communities. Art lovers who support the development of artists help to enrich the human experience. 

    Our goal is to cultivate the imagination and technical skills of artists who will reinvigorate existing works and create new masterpieces that will grip the heart and thrill the mind. We welcome the diversity that sustains our community and empowers our voice through art and artistry.