What an amazing event! The White Silo Winery opened its doors on Saturday evening July 11th to over a 100 people to celebrate the visual arts in Sherman. The Sherman Artists Association (SAA) held its “Summer Evening for the Arts”, the first fundraiser for a Sherman Art Center. Glenn Roth filled the air with his delightful guitar music. The grazing table was delicious and plentiful, and the chilled wine delightful. Many folks were the lucky winners of beautiful artworks, art classes or fun experiences. And there were happy winners of the raffle baskets. For fun, folks grabbed a marker and drew on a canvas as part of a fun art project “pARTcipate”.
Many thanks to the White Silo team for their beautiful location. The owners and staff were welcoming and supportive. And we thank Ralph Gorman for being our Honorary Chair. Thanks also to Muriel Stockdale and the team of SAA members that have worked hard to make this event possible. Special thanks also to Amber Vlangas who was our lively auctioneer!
Many thanks to the businesses that donated: Cloudbreak Sculpture Park, EVOLVE Yoga Wellness Nutrition, Jon Gordon Aviation, The Club at River Oaks, Tradewind Aviation and White Silo Winery. And thanks to the many artists who donated: Phyllis Chadwick, Carolyn Cohen, Eva DeFranco, Elizabeth Frischauf, Karen Golden, Tony Gomez, Chris Grabe, Dalia Hierro, Jim Hunter, Leslie Lilian Levy, Kathy L’Hommedieu, Millie Loeb, Mary Jane Magoon, Kathy Peck, Virginia Schaffer, Lynn Slonaker, Maura Smolover, Muriel Stockdale, and Peter Zsiba.
Linda Hubbard, President of SAA, talked about why a Sherman Art Center. Art helps build communities. Artists and the organizations that support them keep a community vibrant, economically healthy, and distinctive.
Sherman has an amazing amount of arts and culture – the Sherman Playhouse, the JCC with music events, a very active Historical Society, a great Library – and a winery! The missing piece is visual artists.
There are now over 100 members from Sherman and the surrounding communities in just 5 short years and growing. Sherman also has a history of artists such as Ashile Gorky, Peter Blume, Sara Frischer and more. An Art Center would create a home base where SAA could give classes, workshops, have an art exhibition space and a meeting place.
SAA is looking for a building or land here in Sherman. The funds raised at this event help lay the foundation for what’s ahead, to explore the possibilities, determine what’s feasible, develop site plans, and take the critical first steps toward turning this vision into reality. To further explore this, SAA is happy to meet with anyone to share more information.
Thank you to all that came, donated and supported the start of this Art Center dream.
Images: Scenes from a “Summer Evening for the Arts”
