A Heavenly Star Has Arrived For Library Gala

By Shannon Hicks

Linda Pickwick’s “Heaven Scent” is meant to be hung from a ceiling. The hand-painted star is one of 14 that will be featured in an auction during next month’s “Diamonds in the Sky: A Gala to Benefit the Booth Library,” which will take place Saturday, September 29, at Rock Ridge Country Club.

While most of the artists who are painting stars for the auction have been planning for them to be hung on walls, Ms Pickwick has said she would like to see hers suspended from a ceiling. It features a light blue background depicting the sky (which continues to the back of the star) and clouds, a wreath of pink roses and white daisies, a pair of white doves holding a violet ribbon, and a pair of cherubs.

Fourteen artists have accepted the challenge of putting their unique spin on a wooden star (tin, in two cases) that measures 13 inches from the center to the far tip of each point. Many have reported that the three-dimensional “canvas” has given them an additional challenge to coming up with a unique scene, but all that have been delivered to date have been very impressive.

The participating artists, in addition to Ms Pickwick, are Stephanie Adam, Paula Brinkman, Betty Christensen, Claudia Coopersmith, Bruce Degen, Steven Kellogg, Ross MacDonald, Daryl Maurath, Dick McEvoy, David Merrill, Ruth Newquist, Stacey Olszewski, and Michelle Rosenthal.

(Four stars have already been previewed in The Bee; the others will be presented as they become available. Artists are gently reminded that Mrs Geckle, who is coordinating the gala, would like to receive all of the finished stars no later than August 31.)

Tickets for the gala are $100 and can be purchased at C.H. Booth Library, which will benefit from the September event in that a digital audio-visual projector that will augment lectures, discussions, movies and even PowerPoint presentations will be purchased from the gala’s proceeds.

The black-tie event will include passed hors d’oeuvres, Tuscan table and dessert, cash bar, and a live auction of the 14 hand-painted stars. Reverend Robert Weiss, pastor of St Rose of Lima Church, will serve as the evening’s auctioneer. There will also be a raffle that evening of a freeform contemporary-style diamond pendant designed by Quality Gem of Bethel.

For additional information call Mary Thomas at 426-9696.

Reception Cancelled

Due to schedule conflicts, a reception that would have presented the 14-star collection at the library in one setting has been cancelled. Instead, Mrs Geckle says the stars will be showcased at the library in the weeks and days leading up to the September 29 benefit.