Dates to remember
for Festival of Trees

Monday, November 11, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Everyone is invited to join members of CATS creating holiday items (table adornments, wall ornaments, and decorated Christmas trees) to be auctioned at Festival of Trees. Bring scissors, pliers, and/or glue guns; cans of snow and glitter, ornaments, ribbon, and artificial greens are supplied.

Monday, November 25 through Wednesday, November 27, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Donors of items for Live and Silent Auctions at Festival of Trees are reminded to bring their contributions to the Lobby of San Juan Community Theatre

Saturday, December 7, 5:30 PM
Festival of Trees, San Juan Community Theatre; Tickets at Box Office 360.378.3210

Artists contribute
to Festival of Trees

Artists, both current and future, will be "Making Spirits Bright" with their amazing contributions to this year's Festival of Trees. Whether it is art, culinary delights, or presentation, their donations are creating a groundswell of support. Last year the event was sold out long before the date and many disappointed Islanders were unable to attend. Tickets for this year's December 7 gala at the San Juan Community Theatre went on sale October 15 at the Box Office 360.378.3210.

A unique artistic creation this year will be Tom Small's sculpture designed for seating and made to integrate into a landscape. Weighing 3/4 ton, the piece of glacial erratic Cascades stone is three feet by four feet, and the top will be wonderfully and highly polished with surprising little details. Previously, only Spring Street School, where he is the originator of an art project, has been the recipient of such an extraordinary donation.

Only one person can successfully win this "bench," but everyone will enjoy the delights prepared by the four culinary artists: The Market Chef (Laurie Paul and Tim Barrette), Felicitations (Felicity Milne), Cynthia's of Course (Cynthia Burke), and Thai Kitchen (Avon Mangala). Not wanting to spoil the surprise and waiting to know the best produce available at the time, all the chefs are keeping the ingredients of their creations a secret. Past experience indicates that the food will be sumptuous.

Finally, future theatrical artists will be presenting and describing the hors d'oeuves. All are students of Fred Yockers' Theatre Tech class, a new academic opportunity. The class offers students a half credit in exchange for working 90 hours on the high school play, or at the Theatre, or a combination of both. Some assist in the costume room, others help Tom Holzhauser prepare for a performance, and others can be seen in the Theatre office. Their supervisor this special evening is Ann Nelson, the amazing chef in her own right who has organized all the chefs, the wait persons, and the serving routes to insure that each patron receives all the offerings.

When the doors open at 5:30pm all three artistic elements will converge. The first work of art to be seen will be Tom Small's sculpture, quickly followed by members of the Theatre Tech class offering the contributions of the four culinary artists. Come join the festivities!

CATS Festival of Trees raffle
features Erte statue

CATS PRESS RELEASE

One lucky winner, to be announced on December 7 at Festival of Trees in the San Juan Community Theatre, will own an Erte sculpture offered by CATS. Janet Ludwig strikes a pose as "Le Soleil," the statue being raffled at $5 per chance. Approving their handiwork are Penny Torkington who recreated and sewed the costume and Ted Soares who constructed the elaborate headpiece.

posted 10/08/02
Several years ago a donor gave the San Juan Community Theatre twelve bronze sculptures by Erte. In 1911, at the age of nineteen, Erte - one of the greatest designers of the 20th Century - left his home in St. Petersburg, Russia, for Paris to pursue his career in the arts. Thereafter, for eight decades, he produced spectacular work in fashion, theatre, opera, ballet, film, television, and fine art. Nicknamed by his initials, R.T. (for Romain de Tirtoff), and pronounced the same in French and Russian, the artist became known internationally as Erte.

Recently one of the twelve sculptures was sold for $3,500, but "Le Soleil" (#198 of an edition of 300) can be won by one lucky person who purchases a CATS raffle ticket at $5.00 per chance. Tickets are available at the box office and during performances at the Theatre. The winning ticket will be drawn at the "Festival of Trees" on December 7, 2002. Attendance is not required to win, but you don't want to miss CATS' culminating event of the year!

Legend has it that the sculpture might be of the famous Mata Hari. It is well known that she had tawny skin, dark hair, and flashing black eyes, and that she had hats designed by Erte in a style that recreated the "Eye of the Dawn," the meaning of her name. Look at the sculpture on view in the lobby of the San Juan Community Theatre and decide for yourself.

"Making Spirits Bright" is the theme for CATS' largest fundraiser of the year and the winner's spirits will certainly be bright. They will own a creation by the man who designed sets for the "Folies-Bergere" in Paris and George White's "Scandals" in New York and whose Harper's Bazaar magazine covers set the style for what became known as Art Deco.

Erte didn't begin to cast sculptures in bronze, in limited editions (also called "multiples"), until 1980, at the age of 88. Each piece of sculpture produced in a multiple is considered an original and has value that can increase or decrease according to the art market. After a limited edition of sculpture has been cast, the mold is destroyed assuring the uniqueness of the edition. The number of pieces in a limited edition is a determining factor in their value; however, regardless of its number, no piece is more valuable than the other.

CATS busy "Making Spirits Bright"

Left to right:Auction Coordinator Patti Pratt, Artists and Co-Owners Dan and Diane Levin, and Program Coordinator Jennie Inch get their first look at earrings of traditional theatrical masks created and donated by Dan Levin Originals for the festival auction.

posted 09/19/02
Members of CATS (Community Arts Theatre Society) are making preparations for their biggest event of the year, the Festival of Trees at 5:30 p.m. December 7, 2002 in San Juan Community Theatre. "Making Spirits Bright" is the theme of the biggest event of the year sponsored by CATS. Tickets go on sale October 15 at the Box Office 360.378.3210. All proceeds benefit the theater.

Already the committee members are actively working on the many details connected with this major benefit for the Theatre and have many donations of art offered for both the live and silent auctions. The first completed work is from Dan and Diane Levin of Dan Levin Originals at 50 First Street, 378-2051. Last year they contributed a 14 karat gold chain and pendant of the two traditional theatrical masks. This year some lucky bidder will win pierced earrings featuring the same masks, again in 14 karat gold, but this time both masks will be adorned with a diamond. At the store the same earrings are available in yellow, white and/or yellow and white gold.

The festivities begin in the Gubelman Room at 5:30 p.m., bidding on and viewing the silent auction selections while enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres prepared by island chefs. Next comes holiday entertainment in the Whittier Theatre, followed by live bidding, under the capable orchestration of Trish Lehman, on these magnificent earrings and other items.

Traditionally a sellout, Theatre members are encouraged to take advantage of the pre-sale order form mailed the end of September. Tickets will go on sale at the box office on October 15.

Photos of last year's Festival

Festival of Trees 2001 Auction photos

Festival of Trees 2001 Entertainment photos