South Meck students to have 60s-inspired fashion show at Bechtler

Courtesy of the Bechtler.

A group of South Mecklenburg High students are taking a retro fashion show --  with a modern twist -- uptown tonight. In their Apparel, Interior Design and Art classes, they've worked for the few past months to create fashion and interior design pieces inspired by the late 1960s.

They'll show it all off this Tuesday night at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art uptown, called "Modern Runway." The pieces will be a contemporary take on the style of the late '60s.

The theme stemmed from the museum's current exhibition, "Modernism in Changing Times: Works for 1968." To get an  idea of what the late 1960s were like, students studied the exhibition and events of 1968.

Doors open at 6 p.m. to view the interior design vignettes, and the catwalk begins at 6:30 p.m.

To reserve a spot (reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis), email education@bechtler.org with the full name of the person attending.

South Meck, Lake Norman Charter need votes for Vans shoe design contest

South Mecklenburg and Lake Norman Charter students are semi-finalists (that means among the country's top 50) in the Vans Custom Culture contest. The competition is for high school students who have created four designs for Vans shoes.

(Click on the photos to see the designs in better detail.)

Lake Norman Charter's shoes. Photo courtesy vans.com

South Mecklenburg's shoes.

Now the two schools need votes online to make it to the finalist round for the top five designs. If one (or both) of the schools become finalists, students will fly to New York City and are guaranteed to win money for their school's art program. The grand-prize winner will receive $50,000 for the school's art program and a chance for the winning shoes to be produced and sold in Vans retail stores.

Lake Norman Charter and South Meck were chosen from 1,500 schools that applied. Each school has to create four differently-themed designs: art, music, action sports and local flavor.

Voting ends May 13. To vote, visit vans.com/customculture/vote.

South Mecklenburg High sophomore wins poetry contest

Ninth grade students at South Mecklenburg High School were invited by Altrusa International, Inc., a community service organization, to write a poem about the feelings of a child whose parent(s) are deployed in the military. Of the 50 teens who entered the contest, rising sophomore Max Snyder was chosen as the winner. Max will be honored for his achievements on Sept. 13.

His poem:
As I Stay Home
By, Max Snyder

As I stay home
You'd think I feel alone
I don't
I won't

I will not cry
You ask why
Well because
It's what my Daddy does

He is gone
But I do not feel alone
I don't
I won't

He's very brave
He has lives to save
I am so proud
And love him LOUD

He'll be home soon
I'll greet him with a balloon
I will
I can

He's my hero
As I wait at the window
With a smile
Big as a mile

Daddy there's no hurry
I don't worry
I am OK
I will be OK.