Reflections

2024-2025 Theme: Accepting Imperfection

National PTA’s Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life.

Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school, but in life.

Students in pre-K through grade 12 create original works of art in response to a theme. The theme for the 2024-2025 program year is Accepting Imperfection. Students submit their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.

While the primary focus of Reflections is a celebration of creativity through positive recognition, finalists from local PTAs will move on to their council PTA (if applicable), then finalists from councils will move on to the state round. Washington State PTA finalists who receive an “Outstanding Interpretation” award will advance to the National PTA round. National PTA Reflections awards for 2023-2024 can be found here.

Young artists get involved by contacting their local PTA leaders. The deadline for turning in artwork to your local PTA will typically be in late autumn. Local PTAs and councils can choose to accept physical entries or virtual. Only virtual submissions will be sent to the WSPTA level for judging.

 

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Artsonia Gallery

Reflections Art for you! Now you can enjoy student finalist artwork from Riverview Council on items of your choice: cards, tote bags, mugs, magnets, and more!

Visit the 2021 gallery and click on an art piece. Then click the gift shop to see the wide selection that can be imprinted with that design. Great gift ideas!!

A percentage of Artsonia purchases benefit Council Programs. Thank you!

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Artful Quotes

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. ~Pablo Picasso

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. ~Twyla Tharp

The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life. ~William Faulkner

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one. ~Stella Adler

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen. ~Leonardo da Vinci