A perfect microcosmic example of Culver City’s outstanding community support for the arts will be on display this Saturday evening at Farragut Elementary’s third annual ARTWORKS! art exhibition and auction, held to raise funds for the school’s burgeoning arts program. First contribution – the use of the Conjunctive Points building in the Hayden Tract, at 8522 National Blvd., an architectural wonder owned and donated for the event by longtime community art supporters, Frederick and Laurie Samitaur-Smith.
The Hometown Contributors
More than seventy professional artists, moved by the cause, have made valuable contributions of their original works of art to be auctioned off at the event, and most of them are locally based. One such patron is Martha Sigall, a longtime Culver City resident, animation artist and author of the marvelous book, “Living Life Inside the Lines: Tales from the Golden Age of Animation.” She graciously donated an original animated cell of Tinker Bell for the auction saying, “It is so important for art and art appreciation to be taught in schools. It afforded me the self-confidence and the ability to have a long and enjoyable career in the animated cartoon business. When art is part of the curriculum, it allows students to express themselves creatively and it can also improve academic performance.”
Lori Fusaro, a local photojournalist and portrait photographer, is donating two of her outstanding iconographic Culver City landmark prints, plus a valuable portrait session package. “When I heard that Farragut needed to raise money to continue their art program,” she said, “I couldn’t resist donating to the cause. Paintings, photography, sculpture…. all of it not only brings beauty into the world, but joy to the person creating it. When I think about what my childhood would have been without art, well, let’s just say it would have been colorless.”
Direct from Pittsburgh
Local metal sculptor, E.J. Gottlieb, whose works have graced Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center and the Mellon Bank Plaza in Pittsburgh was particularly motivated to donate a dynamic piece titled “41,” a sculptural collage of floating earth toned rectangles. As a parent of two Culver City students, he feels strongly about putting the arts back into education. “With our schools focusing more on academic structure and less on creative expression, our children need us to provide resources that reinforce the importance of exploring their emotions and following their imagination through art,” he said.
In addition to the overwhelming response from artists, numerous Culver City businesses, such as the Culver City Education Foundation and Ralphs Food4Less Foundation, have been exceptionally generous with their grant allocations. More than sixty local vendors have either pitched in to provide hors d’ouvres, cocktails and glorious flowers or have donated additional auction items such as restaurant, camp and entertainment gift certificates all of which guarantee an outstanding event that should raise the necessary funding to keep Farragut’s arts program alive. It’s important to note that virtually all of these same individuals and businesses in our little village also contribute to many other charities and other CCUSD school programs. It takes a village, all right… a village like Culver City!
For more information about the ARTWORKS!, please call 310.842.4323 or visit www.farragutfanclub.org
Griffin Gardner is a Culver City resident, parent of two Culver City students, Arts Committee Chairperson at Farragut Elementary, a District Arts Committee member and an independent video producer.
