Last weekend’s elaborate production of “Artworks!” raised $25,000 to pay for arts programming at Farragut Elementary School.
The new location, at the trendy gallery “Royal/T Artspace,” brought in 400 guests as a packed crowd celebrated the 500-piece gallery art show and adults-only cocktail evening with silent and live auctions.
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Celebrated Culver City artist Martha Sigall, with auctioneer/realtor Mike King
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Farragut parent Michael Manzanet’s well-balanced performers
“Artworks! has truly become a community event and a great party,” said Kathleen McKernin, event chairperson. “Our attendance figures increased another 100 to over 400 people this year.
Highlights of the evening included surprise entertainers who are parents at Farragut. Michael Manzanet’s group from Wonderworld Entertainment performed a human balancing gymnastics ensemble to appreciative crowds.
In addition, Lisa Kneebone sang with her strolling female barbershop quartet called “Sirens” to the delight of the attendees. “People loved the new space, delicious food, waitress ‘maid costumes,’” Ms. McKernin said. “We also had more auction items than ever before. So the shopping buzz was phenomenal. Everyone came away with some amazing buys.”
The most contested auction item was a Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd animation cel by the noted Culver City resident Martha Sigall. It brought in $1,400. Other hot items were a Mexican Riviera Cruise, which fetched $750 (with the winner partly donating to Nancy DeFelice, a first-grade teacher at Farragut) and a brand new BMW bike cruiser from Steve Marx, South Bay BMW.
The space was provided by Susan Hancock from Royal/T. One of the favorite beverages was “sake-tini” drinks at a cocktail bar provided by City Councilman Mehaul O’Leary of Joxer Daly’s. Floral arrangements came from Culver Center Flowers. A print of “The Grinch,” by Tim Dickson of Collectors Editions, was another hot item.
Of note was the huge “Artworks Bazaar” area provided by professional crafters Lisa Levin and Christine Johnson. It included one-of-a-kind items by students as well as professional crafters.
During Artworks! the kids enjoyed their own evening of bouncing, tumbling and jumping entertainment at Josephson Academy of Gymnastics.
Sponsors included Royal/T Artspace, Walters Wholesale Electric Company, Servicon Systems, Ardmore, Lurie Cohen Family, P360/IVC, Post Haste Sound, SKN Beverly Hills, Roundabout Entertainment, Transcenders LLC, Illuminate, Jeff Caudill and Trailer Park, and Michael Haase & Jane Taubman of Christophe Beverly Hills.
“Community Art Day” on Sunday was a success with free arts and crafts for families and games and drama by Jonas Basom and Susan Porter. Girl Scout Troop 2305 presented a card-making activity to accompany the books they are collecting for “United Through Reading” as a part of their Bronze Award. Many books were contributed at Artworks’ Community Art Day.
After her first Artworks experience, Farragut Principal Eileen Carroll said that “it’s wonderful to showcase not only our students’ art, but to be able to provide an arts education to our students because of the Artworks fundraiser.”
