Shall we dance? Paint? Draw? Go to PCPA? Thanks to the Orcutt Children’s Art Foundation (OCAF), for Orcutt school students, the answer to these questions is a resounding yes.
What the California legislature hath removeth from the state schools’ budgets, OCAF hath restored in part, at least where the arts are concerned.
On Oct. 18, from 2 to 5 p.m., OCAF put on its annual “Fine Friends, Fine Arts” (and fine wines!) event at the YMCA.
And yes, it was very pleasant. The guitar music and singing of Steve Meyers enhanced the ambience. Chef Rick furnished his signature hors d’oeuvres (coconut shrimp) and fried chicken nuggets with a dipping sauce. We don’t need to tell you that the shrimp didn’t last long! Testa Catering’s hummus dips were similarly popular.
The Y’s Shannon Seifert worked with OCAF’s fund-raising director Brenda Sullens and new executive director Hannah Rubalcava to make this happen. Super-involved board member Chris Slaughter scurried about in the kitchen, and then announced that well-known musician Terry Lawless will be the honoree at OCAF’s February gala, where he will play with the band.
OCAF raises money to provide creative arts opportunities for children in the Orcutt School District. Lakeview Junior High drama, art, and keyboarding (typing) teacher Jeanne Byrne gave me insight into the magic of arts in the schools.
“OCAF funds are the benevolent winds at our back,” Byrne said. “More than one of my kids has told me, ‘Mrs. Byrne, your class is the reason I get up to come to school.’”
Byrne was quick to add that it is the opportunity for self-expression that is the draw.
“There are no tests,” Byrne noted, “just performance. The arts have swooped the kids up and carried them to new horizons.”
Orcutt teachers can submit financial requests in the form of a mini-grant to the foundation. Bryne is joyous about the sound equipment, microphones, and CDs she was able to purchase for her classroom and drama productions.
“We always literally have music,” she told me.
Byrne’s son Jake, back from film school in Bolivia, hung out with his mom.
Ken Parker, associate superintendent of Orcutt schools, amplified how the arts program in Orcutt works. He told me that specialists in the various artistic areas visit classes and expose the students to the principles and joys of visual art, dance, and drama.
Byrne informed me OCAF is funding tickets for 300 of her students to attend PCPA’s winter opening show, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A busload or two from another Orcutt school will be seeing Scary Poppins at the Great American Melodrama.
Among the guests were the usual suspects: Arts Icon Emeritus Nat Fast, Clare McGhee, Dot Slater, and PCPA’s Kitty Balay Genge.
Jeanne Miranda, a hostess of many fundraising events held on her property, Rancho Miranda, attended with friend Joyce Dudley, Santa Barbara County senior deputy district attorney. Dudley, a candidate for Santa Barbara County district attorney, and Miranda go way back—Miranda’s son, attorney Aaron Smith, was Dudley’s student at Santa Barbara College of Law.
Altrusa member Patti Elswick caught me in front of OCAF’s raffle table (Kenneth Volk wines and glasses, and note cards with student art) and happily reported that Altrusa made several thousand dollars at its Sunday event, “Chocolate Delights.”
Santa Maria nonprofits, please keep those Sunday soirees coming!
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenththom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Oct 22-29, 2009.
