Petals & Palettes

What does it take to make a successful event? A village of volunteers.

Recently there was a unique show at our local Cambria Center for the Arts gallery in the Old Grammar School. More than 70 original paintings, collages, sculptures and photos were interspersed with fresh flower displays that rivaled the finest floral arrangements any florist could offer.

Local artists provided the art. The flowers and arrangements were created and placed by Cambria Garden Club members. The ladies who made it happen were Linda Dunn and Jeanette Wolff, gallery directors, along with Donna Hoppe, Cambria Garden Club president. They were surrounded by volunteers whose efforts resulted in a very successful showing.

Beverly DeLauer and Nancy Warrick coordinated an opening reception which offered dozens of savory and sweet treats provided by artists and Garden Club members alike. Most of the volunteers who cooked and plated the delightful spread of edible creations are members of both organizations.

For the reception, Charlie Shoemake arranged for a few of his students, of the Central Coast Jazz Institute, to entertain the guests.

Special thanks to Jim Rogers for organizing and moving the heavy items. Bob Kelly helped transport trees and shrubs to and from the Cambria Nursery. Kevin Ray, floral designer at the Cambria Nursery, provided flowers and plants to help transform the reception room into a luscious garden.

Gloria Fiscalini provided huge petunia containers that overwhelmed the senses and brought a mountain of color into the room. Ashley and Lucky Gracey of The Garden Shed and Leslie Gray of Deer Run Artifacts loaned out Adirondack chairs and garden decor to add a touch of whimsy and comfort to the garden atmosphere.

The gallery intake and hanging committee did their usual splendid job of setting up the gallery and were ready for the beautiful, clever arrangements as they were completed.

Thanks to Tish Rogers, Loretta Novak, Mary Lou Linstedt, Rosemary Pisciotta, Holly McCain, Robin Wayne, Sherry Andrews and Tom Gould.

Pat and Glen Hascall were ever-present, checking out the previous show artwork. It took a big team of community members to offer this entertaining and interesting show and I wish I could name them all.

Suffice it to say all work was truly appreciated and made the event a great success. It was indeed a joy to see the extent of collaboration between the Allied Arts Association, the Cambria Garden Club and local business owners.

The Cambria Center for the Arts is the home of Allied Arts Association, an association of artists of every genre, art lovers, patrons and volunteers. You can still see the show, at no cost, from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 2

Visit ArtistsOfCambria.com for details on the monthly art shows as well as several more events to tickle the senses.

Nancy McKarney

Cambria

‘Explains everything’

I read and re-read Clive Finchamp’s letter (“It’s all relative”) in the May 9 Cambrian and I was really confused.

That is, until I read his last sentence. That explained everything.

Peter Zobian

Cambria

Editor’s note: The last line of the letter was “All of this comes from someone who has voted for (President Barack Obama) twice.”

Chip in, help others

I have been blessed with a healthy body and still have the ability to run. During the last few years Lu-Ann and I have been running for the Cancer Society and the San Francisco Giants Community Fund, which includes 20 charities such as AIDS, cancer, Hepatitis B, the Willie Mays Junior Giants, summer reading program, food program (feeds 60,000 people a day) and domestic violence prevention.

Some of these programs I participated in while growing up in San Francisco.

I’m asking for sponsors to pledge an amount of money per mile.

I will run the Bay to Breakers (12 kilometers, 7.5 miles) in San Francisco on Sunday, May 19; will be involved in the AIDS/HIV ceremony Tuesday, May 21, at AT&T Park; run the Great Giant race June 1 in San Jose (5 kilometers); the Love Run for Cancer in Carmel on June 10 (5 kilometers); and another Great Giant race in San Francisco on Aug. 4 (13 miles), and the Heritage Bank Run (10 kilometers).

I will probably run about 25 miles this summer. If you want to sponsor me per mile, please send me your name, address and amount of pledge per mile (r.kelley@charter.net, 927-3407).

At the end of the season I will send you the results. All checks will be made out to the SF Giants Community Fund; you will receive a receipt and a tax deduction.

I volunteer for the Giants and am one of 11 ball dudes (the 13th man on the field at first or third base). I retrieve balls and give them to children.

I will be on the field May 20 and 21 and possibly other dates this year.

If you would like to go to a game I can get you standing-room only tickets (all games are sold out). You can stand above home pate and after three innings find an empty seat.

I usually stay at the Beach Motel (Judah-Great Highway) for $70 per night. It is a convenient to ride the Judah streetcar to the park for $4 round trip.

Bob Kelley

Cambria