DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX - October 29, 2008 – Working in his Oak Cliff studio, music, paint, and the creative genius of renowned Dallas artist Chris Arnold provided the perfect backdrop for children from Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) as they worked together to create a masterpiece of their own.  The one-of-a-kind work and a privately commissioned piece from Mr. Arnold will be featured at the AT&T Big Black Tie Ball: An Evening of Masterpieces on November 8 at the Hilton Anatole, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas.

"The project provided such a unique opportunity to work with kids and to give back to a worthwhile organization that I couldn’t pass it up,” said Arnold. “I had a very creative family environment growing up that obviously influenced who I am today. I feel fortunate to provide that example to kids, whether they are budding artists or have never picked up a brush.”
            Accustomed to working on mammoth scale projects that consume thousands of square feet and hundreds of gallons of paint, the works of Mr. Arnold and his partner Jeff Garrison grace the exteriors of multiple story buildings throughout Dallas such as the RenaissanceTower and his ongoing multi-wall project at Mockingbird Station. The much smaller-scaled piece designed with the children, or “Littles”, in the BBBS program provided challenges unique to those typically presented by the side of a building.

“The challenge of this Big Brothers Big Sisters piece came in the final production. The children’s energy, creativity and expression were captured in the first stage of development. I simply reconstructed their creation into its final form to be unveiled by the children at the event,” said Arnold.

In addition to the new theme is a new location and new title sponsor. AT&T claimed title sponsorship of the event when the Big Black Tie Ball transitioned to a Dallas location this year. The theme which focuses on children as masterpiece works of art will be portrayed in the form of large-scale black and white photographic portraits of Littles displayed throughout the event. Littles will also provide musical and dance entertainment during the program segment of the evening and provide artwork for the silent auction.

The evening will also feature an elegant four-course meal, a silent and live auction and musical entertainment by Trey & the Tritones. To purchase tickets and learn more about the event, go to www.bbbstx.org.

The event would not be possible without our feature sponsors which include Classic Chevrolet, Ernst & Young, WorldVentures, Compass Bank, Rent-a-Center, CBS 11/TXA 21, New Car Dealers Association of Tarrant County, Alcon Laboratories, Coca-Cola, Touchstone Communications, Citi, Geode Partners, Beverly Adams Holdings, AT&T, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, SAP, Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, Coors Distributing and KPMG.