Farragut School hosted its fifth annual art show and auction, Artworks! last weekend at the Walter Marks, Inc., Helms Bakery Building, and raised $20,000 to support the arts programs at Farragut.
More than 230 parents, local artists, City Council members and arts supporters filled to overflowing the art and auction space at 8723 Washington Blvd.
Attendees enjoyed music by Andrew Pascoe’s Jazz Quartet, hors d’ oeuvres by Surfas, Bellagio, and Lonzo’s, and a full bar featuring “Chocolate Martini’s” by Joxer Daly’s, sponsored by Councilman Mehaul O’Leary.
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From left, Farragut students Miranda Charney, Maggie Wahlert, Zehra Patail, Kyle Van Slyke
with their artwork.
Other local businesses that contributed to the success of the event were Culver Center Flowers, which provided attractive orchids; and the Josephson Academy of Gymnastics, which provided four hours of gymnastics fun for the childcare Saturday night.
The most hotly contested live auction item was an animation cell of “Bugs Bunny saying `What’s up, doc?’ for the very first time to Elmer Fudd,” donated by Culver City resident and Warner Brothers “Inker” Martha Sigall.
It sold for $900.
Lennon Was Close
Also very popular was the John Lennon poster by famous political poster artist Robbie Conal.
On Sunday, families attended the event to see the 500 pieces of student created art done by Farragut students.
“The children were especially excited to be able to critique and select their favorite pieces from their portfolios for the show,” said Debra Bianculli, Farragut’s new Art Teacher. “This made the show more interesting, and it showcased a variety of styles and art.”
“We are celebrating our fifth anniversary of Aartworks! this year,” said Bonnie Wacker, the chairperson. “It has been so thrilling to see it grow from an idea, posed by teacher Nancy Morgan, to an event that raises more money than any other single event at school.
“We truly have begun to realize the vision to have an ‘arts focus’ campus that not only enriches our children’s lives with training in the visual arts, but with music appreciation classes as well. Our plan to integrate the arts into the curriculum is coming to fruition.”
The Payoff
Farragut Principal Barbara Brown said that the success of Artworks!, as Farragut’s signature event of the year, is largely responsible for funding both art and music classes.
“We recently received a matching grant of $6,000 from the Culver City Education Foundation.” She said. “That will fund music appreciation classes for kindergarten through fourth-grade students next year. We have also added after-school enrichment classes this year. F.A.A.S.T. (Farragut’s After-School Arts and Technology) classes give students the opportunity to take after-school classes in art, music, dance, drama, cheerleading, computer video making, science and soccer.
“Thanks to the support of our parents, staff, and community we are realizing our mission at Farragut to become an outstanding technology and arts focus school.”
