At this year’s annual BTS picnic, we had the pleasure of inviting Wade Forbes of RedTale Communications to capture the heart and soul of BTS in real-time. With 200 markers. And a 6-foot canvas. Surrounded by the warmth of our staff, partners, families, and friends, Wade transformed conversations and reflections into a visual story of what it means to be part of the BTS community.

We encouraged everyone to share their thoughts on what defines BTS. “What do you think of when you think of BTS?” “How does our team tackle mission challenges?” “What’s it like to be part of this community?” Wade captured it all (and we mean raw and unfiltered) and translated our guest’s candid insights, turning stories into sketches. 

The art that emerged reflected so many of our core values: taking care of our people, pushing through challenges with a “get it done” mindset, being serious about the mission without taking ourselves too seriously, and always prioritizing authenticity. Wade’s work captured these values in a way that words alone can’t. We asked Wade about his time at the picnic- here are his thoughts:

“This was such a unique event. It wasn’t a wedding. It wasn’t a funeral. It was just a HUGE celebration of the last ten years of BTS and all the people who have participated, watched, contributed, guided, led, and enjoyed their progress along the way. I felt so welcomed and learned so much from drawing this piece. It was a little like, and I know we are not supposed to say this f word at work, but a little like a family reunion. A large and diverse family from across the miles who just happens to support very critical government missions. Each time I turned around to face the sheet to draw a story someone shared, I had a huge smile on my face and kept thinking, ‘wow, this is something really special.’ Thank you for having me.” – Wade Forbes

Wade’s “interactive art project” was a vivid reminder of why we do what we do. We’re grateful to Wade for his talent and to everyone who shared a piece of their story. Take a closer look at some of the artwork below—it’s not only a visual but also an emotional snapshot of what makes BTS tick.

Thank you to all our guests for making this a memorable, meaningful day of storytelling and community!

Tags: art, mural, picnic