OAC 60th Anniversary Script
June 13, 2010
Orinda Country Club
S. Garell
5:30 Three Minutes
Susan greets guests, points out dignitaries, explains the
program that is going to follow and announces first
performance.
SUSAN: "Welcome all to 60th Anniversary Celebration of the
Orinda Arts Council! We’re so happy that you’ve joined us.
We have a lovely Program to follow celebrating our 60 years
decade-by-decade…full of musical entertainment, speakers,
trivia and even a skit, followed by our Cake Cutting and
exciting Artists Raffle at the end.”
“Before commencing, I’d like to introduce…”
Susan to add any important introductions.
5:33 Five Minutes
50s: The Beginning
Susan introduces Raymond Lau to play the jazz piano
piece Anthropology from the 50s.
SUSAN: "Let’s get started with our first decade, the 50s.
Please join us in welcoming pianist Raymond Lau, a recent
Miramonte graduate who will be attending UC Davis in the
Fall. He will be playing Anthropology by Dizzy Gillespie &
Charlie Parker to represent the 1950s. I give you Raymond
Lau."
5:38 Four Minutes
50s: The Beginning
Susan asks Kate Faust & Joey Judge to join her. They give
a “Duet Speech”
SUSAN: "Thank you, Raymond, for a terrific job taking us
back to 1950, when Doris Fraser and a group of enthusiastic
volunteers founded the Orinda Children's Art Center...our
first moniker…at the prompting and support of School
Superintendent, Joseph Sheaff.”
“Today, we are thrilled to have joining us two important
people in the lives of these visionaries, Kate
Faust, granddaughter of Joseph Sheaff, and Joey
Judge, life-long friend of Doris Fraser and an early student
of the Orinda Children's Art Center.”
KATE: "Thank you. I'm honored to be here representing my
grandfather. As Superintendent, he felt the creative talents of
promising art students needed additional nurturing beyond
what could be provided in school."
"Partnering with Doris Fraser, he opened up school
classrooms on Saturdays for art classes offered by the
Orinda Children's Art Center and encouraged teachers to
identify students who would benefit. My grandfather went on
to serve as Superintendent for 21 years and remained a
strong advocate of arts education, even as the Orinda district
student body grew an astounding seven-fold by his
retirement in 1971."
"For me personally, I felt the impact of the efforts of my
grandfather and Doris while growing up in Orinda because I
was able to study art in a fun and meaningful way. This
enabled me to have a lifelong appreciation of all art forms. In
particular, the drawing and ceramic skills I learned from
teacher and artist, Gerry Wallace, one of our featured artists
here today, have served me well in a variety of careers and
with raising my children. Thank you, Gerry and thank you,
Orinda Arts Council.”
JOEY: "Thank you, Kate. My good friend, Doris, was a local
artist who was known in Orinda as an art teacher and
children's portrait painter, so founding and teaching classes
for the Orinda Children's Art Center came naturally to her.
Over the decade, Doris and the other pioneers built the
Orinda Children's Art Center by expanding beyond the visual
arts, to include drama, creative dance and ‘muscle magic’
classes for boys."
"Exhibits and performances were held at the Orinda Library,
museums, festivals and private homes. By the mid-50s, 200
children a year were taking classes at the Orinda Children's
Art Center."
"I was one of those children. In September of 1950, as a
nine-year-old fifth grader at Glorietta, I was ‘selected’ for art
classes due to my ‘wonderful sense of color'. My mother was
very proud until she found out they thought I was a boy and
that is why I was chosen! But I was definitely a beneficiary of
the Arts Council and Doris Fraser remained a friend until her
death.”
SUSAN: "Thank you so much, Kate and Joey. It's truly an
honor having you here and we know that Doris and Joe
Sheaff would be touched that you are representing them."
Susan asks Kate Faust & Joey Judge to be seated.
SUSAN: "So that brings us to our first bit of OAC historical
trivia: The classes at the Orinda Children's Art Center in the
1950s were $2.50 per semester for art, and a ‘small fee’ was
charged for performance classes…certainly bargain in
today's terms!"
“And, a second fun fact: Members were called
'sponsors,’ paid $5 a year and were expected to volunteer
for cleanup and setup, or to teach art classes. Yet, another
bargain…in exchange for a little work."
5:42 Four Minutes
60s:
Susan introduces Sarah Ames, 2008 Orinda Idol High
School Winner, with the song Heatwave for the 60s.
SUSAN: "Now, we move to the 60s. Please join us now in
welcoming USC sophomore and 2008 Orinda Idol High
School Winner, Sarah Ames, singing Heatwave by Martha
Reeves and the Vandellas from the 60s. Sarah, take it
away."
5:49 Three Minutes
60s:
Susan introduces Irene Wilkinson and Betty
Hagstrom, who speak about activities in the 60s.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Sarah, for the trip back to the
60s, a decade of dramatic self-reflection and enlightenment.
The OAC also evolved with the times, embracing the
notion of creative fulfillment for adults and community, too.
"During this decade, the 'Orinda Children's Art Center'
became the simply the 'Orinda Art Center,' adult art
classes were added, and the OAC began
installing art exhibits at the Orinda Library."
"It was also marked by annual fundraising art events and
here to describe those and other memories of the 60s
are Irene Wilkinson and Betty Hagstrom."
IRENE: "Thank you. With creative themes such as ‘Bellas
Artes en la Primavera’ and ‘Orinda 1890,’ the Springtime Art
Events started in the 1960s were elaborate happenings with
professional and student art exhibits, cooking
demonstrations, costume contests, and all manner of frivolity
to raise funds for the OAC.”
“Dorothy Davis, one of our guest artists today, was featured
at these events, including 'Art All Together' in 1969 and
continued to exhibit at OAC events well into the mid-1990s."
"The monies raised went towards Orinda Art Center classes,
exhibits, performances, and high school art scholarships. I
remember carrying the art supplies for the classes that we
provided at the schools, particularly to Sleepy Hollow where
my own children were students. My daughter learned to love
art through those early experiences and she has gone on to
become a professional artist. I believe the key was
encouraging artistry, not teaching it. What a great gift from
the OAC!"
"I’d like to turn it over to my friend Betty Hagstrom,
President 1964-65, to recount the challenges of finding
venues for our springtime events and to relate one of her
favorite memories.”
BETTY: “Thank you, Irene. I remember that the OAC held
these events at any private residence or yard we could find.
One year, however, a rainout caused us to quickly 'SOS' to
the Orinda Community Church, which graciously agreed to
welcome the OAC. This is a fond memory. I can still picture
everyone pitching in, including husbands (!), with people and
things strewn everywhere in the scramble to escape the rain.
To me, this truly embodied the spirit of the OAC…the
cooperation of everybody. We were a small group and
everybody was wonderful. Everybody helped and nobody
said no to any job they were given. It was really a unique
group of women and one that I will treasure all my life.”
Susan asks Irene Wilkinson and Betty Hagstrom to be
seated.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Irene and Betty. Now, for more OAC
historical trivia: Sponsors still paid $5 and were asked to
volunteer, but were now entitled to classes, lectures,
and tours in keeping with the expanding offering of the OAC
for adults.”
“And, speaking to the reliability and longevity of the United
States Post Office, as well as the OAC, we still have the
exact same P.O. Box as in the 60’s: P.O. Box 121!”
5:52 Four Minutes
70s:
Susan introduces Soul Sisters, 2009 Orinda Idol 6-12th
Grade Group Winners, with Super Trouper for the
70s. Amrita & Neris Newton and Jacqueline Garell
SUSAN: "That brings us to the 70s. Please join us now in
welcoming 2009 Orinda Idol 6-12th Grade Group
Winners, Soul Sisters, singing Super Trouper by Abba from
the 70s. Amrita Newton, Neris Newton and Jacqueline
Garell, let's get psychedelic...”
5:56 Three Minutes
70s:
Susan introduces Nancy Daniels, creator of the OAC at
60 book, who speaks the activities of the 70s and her
impressions as she was working on the book.
SUSAN: "Thank you Soul Sisters, for that musical reminder
of the 'groovy' 70s, the time of macramé, decoupage, pottery
wheels...a time when so many people became artsy, craftsy
and appreciated the creativity of others."
"Nowhere did this flourish more than the OAC Springtime Art
Events, many held right here at the country club, that had
continued to grow in stature and popularity. Events such as
"Mai-Fest,” complete with a maypole, and the Mexicanthemed "Fiesta de Los Artes," attracted 800-1,000 attendees
and featured as many as 50 professional and 30 student
artists."
"Among other things, the OAC used these fundraisers for
two important developments in the 1970s, the opening of the
new Orinda Community Center, and the initiation of the Art
Docent Program in the schools.”
“Here to tell us more about these and other
discoveries during her fascinating experience going through
the OAC archives is our OAC at 60 Book Creator & Past
President, Nancy Daniels."
NANCY: "Thank you. For our first 20 years, the Orinda Art
Center never really had a ‘home,’ so in the early 70s, the
OAC threw support and funding behind building a new
Orinda Community Center to create a true locus for Orinda
life. When it opened in 1973, the OAC was able to hold
additional arts classes for children and adults there, while
continuing it's classes in the elementary school classrooms,
as it had since 1950.”
“Also, in the 70s, the OAC Art Docents began going directly
into classrooms twice a month during the school day to
supplement art instruction for fourth to sixth graders, a
program that continued at some Orinda schools until the
mid-2000s."
"But, it wasn't ALL work, as you've already heard. There
were many fun events along the way. It was the height of the
70s and we even held a hot tub and outdoor art tour (!)
called "Art With A Splash". It featured a patchwork kite and
fabric sculptured alligator, pieces by another of our honored
artists here today, Liz Piatt.”
“Stories like this, plus photos, articles and documents tell the
rich history of the OAC. When we decided to create a book
to commemorate the 60th Anniversary, the treasure trove of
archives opened a lot of doors to me to understanding this
organization. On one hand it was a wonderful social history,
but on a more personal level it spoke to me about
community. Over the decades, people come in, contribute,
and eventually move on all while giving so much of
themselves and their passions, expertise, skills and caring to
make this community better culturally and creatively-- that
adds to my sense of belonging. That’s what we hope this
event and the book-- evokes and proliferates.”
Susan asks Nancy Daniels to be seated.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Nancy. Now, for some 70s OAC trivia:
Many of you may not know that the Orinda Community
Center was actually built on the original site of the Orinda
Elementary School and School District Office, where the
Orinda Children's Art Center had it's beginnings."
"And, another fascinating fact: To provide top-notch food at
its springtime events, the OAC often went as far away as the
Nut Tree for bag lunches or asked SF's Narsai David to
prepare the delicious faire."
"As for our index of the cost of being an OAC
‘sponsor,’ inflation was nipping at it as it now ranged from
$5-$25."
6:00 Four Minutes
80s:
Susan introduces Nick Chaconas and Patrick Hart with
Agony for the 80s.
SUSAN: "Let’s move on to the next wave, the 80s. Please
join us now in welcoming Miramonte Juniors Nick
Chaconas and Patrick Hart singing Agony from Into the
Woods, a popular musical in the 80s that was recently
performed by Miramonte High School, sponsored in part by
the OAC. I give you two young men in agony…"
6:04 Three Minutes
80s:
Susan introduces Anne Meyers, OAC President ’87‘88, who speaks about activities in the 80s.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Nick and Patrick for that musical
theater piece from the 80s, the decade that we became The
Orinda Arts Council, just as many other local arts groups
reorganized as 'councils'. Luckily, 'OAC,' our acronym since
the 60s, worked quite perfectly!”
“The 80s were also a time of school and government budget
problems, making private community and school arts
efforts even more necessary. Please welcome Anne
Meyers, OAC President ’87-‘88 to tell us about the OAC's
work to integrate arts into education, support community art
venues and even publish a book."
ANNE: “Thank you. Yes, Touch With Your Eyes was the
name of the very special book published by the OAC that
guided children through a museum visit and encouraged kids
to ‘use their imaginations to feel what they see’. It
was successfully sold in bookstores and museums
throughout the US and cited positively by the Met in New
York…all very exciting for the OAC!"
"Guiding the arts into the curriculum was another important
effort of the OAC in the 80s, as we partnered with EFO to
underwrite the Docent Program at OIS. Budget cuts were
diminishing art programs, so the OAC encouraged the
integration of art into teaching subjects like history and math.
Among the projects, students sculpted clay to learn
about the concept of proportion and created baskets based
on the patterning notions of native Indians. My own
experience with the Docent Program was…”
Anne to add 2-3 sentences about the “Hands On” art docent
materials and her memories of taking them into the
classroom.
“The OAC also continued to support the arts in the
community and our close cooperation with the Orinda
Community Center, notably through a $10,000 grant towards
the Amphitheater and the purchase the barres and mirrors
for ballet classrooms. We also donated $1,000 to the
Shakespeare Festival as it was moving to Orinda then."
“Of course, raising funds for these efforts continued through
the OAC’s tradition of spectacular themed art events, such
as two of my favorites, the Octoberfest at the Community
Center and the Western Round-up at the old red farm
buildings in Moraga…”
Anne to add a closing thought.
Susan asks Anne Meyers to be seated.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Anne. Now, our latest installment of
trivia for the 80s: Thirty years after founding the Orinda
Children’s Art Center, Doris Fraser was present at the
30th Anniversary Luncheon in 1980 to celebrate our special
legacy.”
“And, by 1990, inflation had caught up, as the cost of
‘sponsorship’ had doubled to range from $10 to $50.”
6:07 Four Minutes
90s:
Susan introduces Jocelyn Purcell, 2007 K-2ndGrade &
2008 3-5th Grade “double” Orinda Idol Winner, singing
Journey to the Past from Anastasia for the 90s.
SUSAN: "We’ve arrived in the 90s. Please join us now in
welcoming incoming OIS 6th Grader Jocelyn Purcell,
‘double’ Orinda Idol Winner in 2007 for K-2nd Grade and for
2008 3-5th Grade, singing Journey to the Past from
Anastasia from the 90s. Jocelyn, take us back…”
6:11 Three Minutes
90s:
Susan introduces Sue Farmer, OAC President '99-'00, and
again, Co-President '04-'05, who speaks about activities in
the 90s.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Jocelyn for that lovely piece from the
90s....not the too distant past, but equally as rich in the
OAC’s evolution of arts advocacy. During the 90s, we
lobbied Contra Costa County to form a 'county arts
commission' as only one of two California counties without
one, encouraged the City to remodel the Orinda Community
Center, and played an important role in the opening of the
Miramonte Art Center at the high school."
"It was also the decade of 'Heart of Orinda,' 'Dance for
Power,' 'Copper Tooling & Batik,' 'Arts in Bloom'...and here
to describe these buzzwords and programs is a tireless past
president from the 90s who continues to be active in the
OAC to this day. Please welcome Sue Farmer, OAC
President '99-'00, and again, Co-President '04-'05."
SUE: "Thank you. The ‘Heart of Orinda' effort began in 1989
with an OAC proposal to the City for a physical center for the
arts. As part of the City's remodeling of the Community
Center and the building which is now the Library, the OAC
hoped for two dedicated art rooms, which ultimately weren't
funded. But, importantly, our advocacy did result in
the addition of the Orinda Art Library Gallery and
Auditorium."
"As for 'Dance for Power,' this was an OIS Docent program
which integrated music, dance and visual arts from Western
Africa with various subject studies. And, of course, many of
you fondly remember volunteering for the 'Copper Tooling &
Batik' art docent projects at OIS (and some may still have
the finished products in a closet or on a shelf!) Hopefully,
you've had a chance to see the exhibit here today."
"And what about 'Art in Bloom'? This was the OAC's 'can't
miss' annual art and garden event at Orinda Theatre Square
in the early 90s, complete with exhibits, demonstrations and
lectures. In 1995, our energies turned to the Designer
Showcase joint fundraiser at the Lesher Estate featuring
local artists in the Greenhouse Gallery."
"That brings us to Andrew Denman, another guest artist
today, whose first one-man exhibit in 1993 at age 15 was
sponsored by the OAC at the Orinda Library in keeping with
our long history of nurturing young artists. Andrew has gone
on to become a nationally renown wildlife artist and we are
grateful for his art donation to our raffle, as well as those of
the other featured artists."
"As the century drew to a close in the second half of the 90s,
I particularly remember that we held five special spring
fundraisers in various beautiful Orinda homes. Again they
had the Art in Bloom theme and each event raised about
$14,000, helping us fund these good causes as we entered
the new millennium.”
SUSAN: "Thank you, Sue. Now, our 90s trivia: Just before
2000, the OAC embraced the internet and launched
our website, designed by two Miramonte High School
students.”
“And, in keeping in up with the intersection of art and
technology, the OAC also helped Miramonte improve its
graphics art capabilities with a grant for computer upgrades
to be used by the student newspaper and other printed
materials.”
6:14 Three Minutes
2000s:
Susan introduces Wicked Girls, 2009 Orinda Idol K-5th
Grade Group Winners, with For Good for the 2000s. Wicked
Girls: Samantha Martin and Isabel Mueller.
SUSAN: "That brings us to the just completed decade, the
2000s. Please join us now in welcoming 2009 Orinda Idol K5th Grade Group Winners, Wicked Girls, singing For
Good from Wicked for the 2000s. Enjoy two very good young
Lafayette singers going into 4th grade, Samantha
Martin and Isabel Mueller…”
6:17 Three Minutes
2000s:
Susan introduces Myrna Witt, OAC President '00-‘01, and
'05-‘06, who speaks about activities in the 2000s.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Wicked Girls, for that moving piece
from this decade about mutual support and partnership
representative of our activities with other arts organizations
and advocates in the community to strengthen our individual
efforts."
"The OAC gave $25,000 towards the new Orinda Library,
merged with the parent group OASIS (Orindans for Arts
Support in Our Schools), and transformed the Docent
Program under the OIS Parents' Club to create the very
successful OIS arts integration program."
"We've participated in the Art in Public Places Committee,
the Orinda Film Festival, the California Independent Film
Festival and recently, held a joint fundraiser with the Pacific
Chamber Symphony."
"It's also been the decade of seven High School Visual Arts
Competitions, Five Orinda Idols, a summer of artists'
birdhouses and even an exquisite fundraiser at the home of
the Patty & Bob Felton. Here to tell us more is two-time
President in ’00-’01 and ’05-’06, and current Orinda Library
Art Gallery Co-Chair, Myrna Witt."
MYRNA: "Thank you. Yes, I do remember the lovely
fundraiser at the Felton house in 2000...the one that looks as
if it's a flying saucer sitting on top of a mountain in Berkeley!
And, I remember Birdhaus in 2005, when we installed 75
artist birdhouses around Orinda and raised $32,000 at the
Gala Auction with our partner, Habitat for Humanity."
"I can also recount how we came to manage the new Orinda
Library Art Gallery, which was a larger, designated space for
viewing paintings and had cabinets for 3-D art. Pam Hall of
Friends of the Library asked us if OAC would like to take on
that role. At the time when I was president and my first
thought was, 'Why WOULDN'T we want to do that?' A big
thanks goes to Pamela Westin, who researched hanging
systems and put it all together. Today, we continue rotate
monthly exhibits through the gallery and use the space to
showcase the pieces of the High School Visual Arts
Competition and the OUSD Art Ambassadors."
"There has been a lot of transition in these ten years,
including much more targeted funding for specific school
programs like the OIS Bulldog Theater Company, Miramonte
and elementary school musicals, OUSD sketchbooks and
the Visual Arts and Orinda Idol competitions. These
continuing programs are all wonderful, nurturing artistic
experiences for our children and the community…just as
Doris Fraser and Joseph Sheaff intended 60 years ago and
I'm thrilled to have helped further their legacy."
Susan asks Myrna Witt to be seated.
SUSAN: "Thank you, Myrna. Now, another bit of trivia: In
2000, under the direction of the OAC, students built
the Millennium Kiosk in response to Hillary Clinton's call to
design a city of the future. It still stands today at the entry of
the Orinda Community Center."
6:20 One Minute
Congratulatory Letters
Susan introduces Petra Michel, who reads letters.
SUSAN: "Next...we may not have received a congratulatory
letter from the White House, yet, but very close! Here to read
these letters is our own current Past President, Petra
Michel."
PETRA: "Thank you, Susan."
Petra says a few words before reading the Congratulatory
Letters.
6:21 Eleven Minutes
Susan introduces Daniel Cook and Amrita Newton to
present fundraising skit.
SUSAN: "So now, a final accounting of the current cost of
what we now call 'membership'. It's now $40 or 5x that of
1950, but no work now required (however, encouraged!).
The OAC changed its Bylaws in 2007 to a non-voting
membership-based organization directed a voting Board."
"That might ring a bell for you as the 'KQED' membership
model and so we've come to our the funding drive portion of
the program. You will note that the OAC has contributed
$75,000 over the last three years to support the arts in the
school and community and we couldn’t have done so without
our donors.”
“So, who better to appeal to you than two more of the
talented children we've supported over the years."
"Please welcome Daniel Cook and Amrita Newton, both
incoming Miramonte freshman who participated in all six OIS
shows through the OAC-sponsored Bulldog Theater
Company while students there.”
“They are also both recipients of OIS’s first “BOOM Award’
for excellence in the Visual and Performing Arts, initiated this
year and awarded to one girl and one boy during the 8th
grade promotion. They will be performing a skit for you
written by incoming Miramonte senior, Rachel Cook. Please
enjoy Orinda in 2012…”
Daniel and Amrita perform skit.
SUSAN: “Thank you, Daniel and Amrita for that entertaining
skit! Everyone, please be sure to hand your Donation Cards
to Isabel, Samantha, Neris and Jacqueline, who will be
coming around to collect.”
6:32 8 Minutes
Cake Cutting & Artist Raffle
Susan asks all of Past Presidents to come up and introduces
Gwen McNeilus and Wicked Girls to hold raffle drawing.
SUSAN: “Now, what every good celebration needs, a cake!
We’d like to invite all past presidents up for our 60th
Anniversary cake cutting. Please join us.”
Past Presidents and Susan make first cake cut. Staff begins
serving previously cut cake.
“Finally, the exciting moment we’ve all be waiting for, our
Artist Raffle. Here to conduct the raffle drawing is our VP of
Fundraising and the Chair of the 60th Anniversary
Celebration, Gwen McNeilus and her helpers to draw the
winning tickets, the Wicked Girls, Isabel and Samantha.”
Gwen reads raffle items, holds drawings and announces
winners.
SUSAN: Thank you, Gwen, Isabel and Samantha.
Congratulations to the winners1”
“Thanks 60th Committee…”
“That concludes our program. We appreciate all of your
support immensely. Please enjoy more food, drink and
conversation. Thank you for celebrating with us!”