LATEST NEWS
Visual Arts ASSESSMENTS 2024-2025
Assessment Information for the Incoming Lottery Students for the 2024-2025 School Year
List of the required artworks for submission
If chosen in the lottery, your Welcome Letter/Packet will include detailed instructions about how to submit assessment materials.
Email with any questions or for more information: [email protected]
Visual Arts ASSESSMENTS 2023-2024
Assessment Information for the Incoming Lottery Students for the 2023-2024 School Year
List of the required artworks for submission
If chosen in the lottery, your Welcome Letter/Packet will include detailed instructions about how to submit assessment materials.
Email with any questions or for more information: [email protected]
Kayla Palma Joins the Visual Arts Department
 Ms. Palma completed her Bachelor of Arts at Florida Southern College in 2016 and her Masters of Education at Southeastern University in 2019. She is joining us from Cardinal Charter Academy in Cary and will be teaching Beginning 2D & Photography. Her classroom is located in the basement room G012.
Visual Arts ASSESSMENTS 2022-2023
Assessment Information for the Incoming Lottery Students for the 2022-2023 School Year
List of the required artworks for submission
If chosen in the lottery, your Welcome Letter/Packet will include detailed instructions about how to submit assessment materials.
Email with any questions or for more information: [email protected]
Melissa Rygalski Joins the Visual Arts Department
 Ms. Rygalski completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Tyler School of Art in 2004 and has extensive prior experience teaching in middle school as well as several museums. She is joining us from Jordan High School and will be teaching Beginning 2D & Photography. Her classroom is located in the basement room G001.

Senior Show 2021 - 2D 
Take some time to see the fine work that DSA's Senior 2D Students have done
Senior Show 2021 - 3D
Take some time to see the fine work that DSA's Senior 3D Students have done
Senior Show 2021 - Photo
Take some time to see the fine work that DSA's Senior 3D Students have done
Student Work at Golden Belt Gallery 2021
Take some time to see the fine work that DSA's Students have on display at the Golden Belt Campus.
The gallery is actually open to the public for in-person visits.
Student Work 2020-21 - Quarter 1
Take some time to see the fine work that DSA's Students have made during virtual online Visual Arts classes.
Ruth Vienneau Joins the Visual Arts Department
 Ms. Vienneau graduated from UNCG with a BA in Art Ed. Prior to coming to DSA, she worked as a preK-8th grade visual Art Teacher at Sterling Montessori in Morrisville. Ms. Vienneau will be teaching 6th grade Intro to Art and 7th grade Art Explorations as well as Media and Design. Her classroom is D115 in the Main Building.
Mar Hester Joins the Visual Arts Department
 Ms. Hester completed her Master of Fine Arts at Florida State University in 2016 and has extensive prior experience working as a photographer, graphic designer, and visual artist. She is joining us from Wake Forest High School and will be teaching Photography. Her classroom is located in the basement room G003.
DSA Student Places First in Congressional Competition
 For North Carolina District #1 - Rep. Butterfield 
Sylvie Kay (12th Grade) wins 1st Place
(image right)
Kay's work will be exhibited in Washington, DC for a year
Senior Show - 3D
Take some time to see the fine work that DSA's Senior 3D Students have done
Senior Show - Photography 
Take some time to see the fine work that DSA's Senior Photography Students have done
Visual Arts Trip to NYC    Students will visit art museums, art galleries, and historic sights in the Big Apple on Thursday - Saturday 26-28 March 2020
​Click for more information
Felicia Maye Joins the Visual Arts Department
 Originally from Durham and a 2008 graduate of DSA, Ms. Maye completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Art Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2012. She taught Visual Arts at Gray's Creek High School in Cumberland County for 7 years. Ms. Maye will be teaching Media & Design, 7th grade Arts Exploration, and 6th grade Intro to Art. Her classroom is in the Main Building in Room D115.
DSA Visual Arts Enters 2019 State Fair
High School           Middle School
Grace Erickson                            Livia Applewhite
Diana Garcia-Villalpando                   Annelise Chilton
Amanda Heffley                           Layla Gusa
Isabelle Kosempa                      Liam Olarte
Terri Lockamy                              Ella Perin
                   Jane Tayyeb                      Veronica Segovia-Quevedo

8th Annual DSA FALL ARTS FESTIVAL
Come out and celebrate the Day of the Dead with DSA
Saturday 27 October 2019 5-9p

Annual DSA Haunted House
Thursday 31 October 2019 4:30-6:15p

DSA Visual Arts Enters 2018 State Fair
High School           Middle School
Lucie Ciccone                          James Barnes
Elena Fellman                         Lila Hacohen
Jose Garrido-Perez                      Audrey Luben
   Sophia Johnson                       Madeline Muckler
Izzy Kosempa                           Jay Phung
Tyler Parrish                                Andi Totten

7th Annual DSA FALL ARTS FESTIVAL
Come out and celebrate the Day of the Dead with DSA
Saturday 27 October 2018 6-9p

Annual DSA Haunted House
Wednesday 31 October 2018 4:30-6:15p

Students Win Regional Arts Competition (NCASA) 
Middle School team wins First Place; Nona Borden (11th) wins High School for Sculpture. All will go on to compete at the State level.
Awards Ceremony: Saturday 17 February 2018 5:00pm at DSA's Weaver Auditorium.
Scholastics Art & Writing Awards 2018    Students win Gold (9) and Silver Keys (5)  plus Honorable Mentions (18) in the Regional Competition
Portfolio Trip to DC    Students will show off their work to Art Colleges or take and Art History tour on Friday & Saturday 17-18 November 2017

6th Annual DSA FALL ARTS FESTIVAL
Come out and celebrate the Day of the Dead with DSA
Saturday 28 October 2017 6-9p

Scholastics Art & Writing Awards 2017    Students win Gold (13) and Silver Keys (6)  plus Honorable Mentions (10) in the Regional Competition
Students Recognized at Durham's Finest Exhibition
 At the annual district-wide all grade level exhibition at NCCU Museum of Art, every school submits four 2-D pieces and some 3-D Pieces.  For Middle Schools, DSA's Michelle Vargas-Santos (7th Grade) was chosen by the museum staff for the FIRST place purchase award.  For High Schools, DSA's Veronica Enierga (12th grade) was chosen for an Honorable Mention.  Congratulations to these two students.
​More Information

8th Grade Assessments   17 - 27 January
Portfolio Presentations for Placement for Next Year - ​Requirements
Students currently in Media & Design I or II - in class.
Students not currently in a visual arts class - ​before or after school or lunch. (Sign up sheets outside the Media Center)

DSA Visual Arts Wins at 2016 State Fair
High School wins 4th Place
Portfolio Trip to DC    Students will show off their work to Art Colleges on Friday & Saturday 18-19 November 2016

5th Annual DSA FALL ARTS FESTIVAL
Come out and celebrate the Day of the Dead with DSA
Saturday 29 October 6-9p

Jack Watson Joins the Visual Arts Department
 After teaching for 9 years at Chapel Hill High School, Mr. Watson will be teaching Beginning 2D, Intermediate 2D, and AP Art History.  We are very excited to have such a dynamic and experienced educator join our team.  His classroom is on the main hall of the Main Building in room D115.
Scholastics Art & Writing Awards 2016    8th Grader JOHANNA SHAIN has won a National Silver Key for her pen/line drawing titled "Carr Building Detail"!!!
Scholastics Art & Writing Awards 2016    Students win Gold (14) and Silver Keys (15)  plus Honorable Mentions (36) in the Regional Competition
Erin Stesch Leaves the Visual Arts Department
 After teaching for 4 years here, Ms. Stesch has had to resign for health reasons.  We will certainly miss her professionalism and calm spirit.  We wish her the best in her continued recovery.  We are in the process of interviewing to fill the vacancy.  Ms. Pulcher is currently substituting  until we find that replacement.

8th Grade Assessments   11 - 26 January
Portfolio Presentations for Placement for Next Year
​Requirements
In class for students currently in Media & Design I or II
​Before or after school or lunch for students not currently in a visual arts class
(Sign up sheets outside the Media Center)

DSA Visual Arts Wins at 2015 State Fair
High School wins 2nd Place

4th Annual DSA FALL ARTS FESTIVAL
Come out and celebrate the Day of the Dead with DSA
Saturday 31 October 12n-5p

Portfolio Trip to DC    Students will show off their work to Art Colleges on Friday & Saturday 20-21 November 2015
Jessica Cecchini Joins the Visual Arts Department
 After teaching for 12 years at Charlotte's Myers Park High School, Ms. Cecchini has moved to the triangle and will be teaching Beginning 2D and Photo I this year.  We are very excited to have such a dynamic and experienced educator join our team.  Her classroom is in the basement of the Main Gym in room G001.
Three DSA Students Place in Congressional Competition
 For North Carolina District #1 - Rep. Butterfield 
Ezekiel Seamans (12th Grade) wins 1st Place (left image above)
Seamans' work will be exhibited in Washington, DC for a year
Veronica Enierga (10th Grade) wins an Honorable Mention (middle)
Destiny Everette (12th Grade) wins an Honorable Mention (right)

Senior 3D Exhibition   13 - 22 May
Opening Reception  13 May 4-6pm

Picture
Student Recognized by Governor    Emily Burke was honored at a reception at the Governor's Residence in Raleigh for her National Silver Key!!!  Certificates were presented by Secretary of Cultural Affairs Susan Kluttz.

Senior 2D Exhibition   29 April - 08 May
Opening Reception  06 May 4-6pm

Senior Photo Exhibition   13 - 24 April
Opening Reception  22 April 4-6pm

DSA MS & HS Student Art @ Northgate Mall   15 - 27 April

Scholastics Art & Writing Awards 2015    Emily Burke has won a National Silver Key for her wall sculpture titled "Animal End"!!!
Scholastics Art & Writing Awards 2015    Students win Gold and Silver Keys plus Honorable Mentions in the Regional Competition
Portfolio Trip to DC    Students will show off their work to Art Colleges on Friday & Saturday 21-22 November 2014
DSA Visual Arts Wins @ 2014 State Fair    High School wins 2nd Place
Middle School Wins 2nd Place

Visual Arts ASSESSMENTS
for Incoming Lottery Students
for the 2020-2021 School Year

Visual Arts ASSESSMENTS 2020-21 - for Incoming Lottery Students for the 2020-2021 School Year