Santa Maria Sun / News

Hobnobbing With Helen

BY HELEN ANN THOMAS

Bravo, Nancy Johnson!

A long career of community activism, volunteering, and support of the arts has yielded you yet another tribute.

Board together: Dana Adobe board members congregated on May 11 at a PCPA fundraiser before the performance of Romeo and Juliet. Pictured are (back, left to right) Herb Kandel, Bob Weiger, Helen and Alan Daurio; (front, left) Gina Bernero, and Donna Gillette. The Daurios are co-presidents of the board. Weiger is vice-president. PHOTOS BY HELEN ANN THOMAS

The Santa Maria Arts Council each year honors a community member for his or her contribution to the arts. This year, just after she wound up a demanding two-year term as chairman of the PCPA Foundation board, Johnson was selected as honoree of the 2012 Individual Grants in the Arts Awards. She was honored at the Santa Maria Arts Council’s 2012 Grants Showcase, a performance and awards presentation, held May 21.

Usually held at the Vets Memorial Hall on Tunnell (and displaced this year because of refurbishment activity at the hall), the event found a pleasing venue at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center. A $20 ticket bought admission, one glass of classy wine, and unlimited access to a great buffet catered by VTC.

“We have a wonderful turnout for Nancy,” Peggy Greer reported at the check-in table.

I guesstimated more than 150 in the healthy-sized crowd, full of Johnson’s friends, neighbors, family, and colleagues.

Arts activists: Kate Burridge and Craig Shafer attended the Santa Maria Arts Council Annual Grants Showcase on May 21 at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center. Burridge, an arts marketing specialist, is co-chair of the grants committee. Shafer is president of the Arts Council. PHOTOS BY HELEN ANN THOMAS

This event is always a delight. This year, we were bowled over by the talent exhibited by the winners of the Arts Council’s Individual Grants, which are presented on this particular evening.

Artist Jill Targer told me she had sat in on the music trials: “Honestly,” she said, “all nine in that category were wonderful. All of them were worthy of winning.”

Those of us who heard Joshua Lanier and Joe Payne (calendar editor of the Sun) perform on the piano (individually) were thrilled by the talent of these two. Emily Myers and Zachary Padlo wowed us with dance routines. Clare Lopez and PCPA’s Shae Palic (she was Juliet in Romeo and Juliet) delighted us with dramatic monologues. The visual arts entries of Madalyn Hunt and Laura Moll were on display.

Moll, whose handsome brass sculptures earned her second place in her category, said, “I didn’t start until relatively late in life. There is a newfound freedom in getting older. You feel free to try more.”

I’ll drink to that, Laura!

Nat 'n Nancy network: Old friends and community icons Nat Fast and Nancy Johnson met up at the Arts Council's annual Grants Showcase on May 21. Johnson was this year's honoree. Fast is on the Individual Grants Committee.

Avid theatergoers and arts supporters Nancy Fraim, Alice Worhacz, and Adele Lippit were among the crowd, as was former Arts Council honoree and PCPA staff member Roger DeLaurier.

Hancock arts instructor Marti Fast reported that the bus trip she led to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles went well and was a lot of fun. See the Hancock Spectrum publication for news of Marti’s future trips.

Charles and Judy Markline, former county supe Toru and Jeanne Miyoshi, and Judge Jed and Diane Beebe turned out for the event. Karolyn Addington and Don Ward came in support of their friend Nancy. Ward himself was recently honored with an Arbor Day ceremony in Waller Park for his leadership in the Friends of Waller Park.

Arts Council member and Civic Theatre mother hen Claire Terrill sold raffle tickets for some wonderful Chinese auction items—among them: an original Bob Burridge acrylic painting (won by the always-lucky Virginia Egelund), an original Nat Fast watercolor, and tickets to PCPA and the Civic Theater.

Arts Council member Jean Shinn was responsible for Johnson’s lovely purple tulip corsage, the buffet table’s floral centerpiece, and a lot of fun, lively conversation.

If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.