Farragut Elementary School’s annual ARTWORKS! art celebration and auction will be held in one of Culver City’s most eclectic and creative spaces – Royal/T Artspace. This 500-piece gallery art show and adults-only cocktail evening, with silent and live auctions, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 24 at the Artspace, 8910 Washington Blvd., in Culver City. Admission is $15 at the door.
The catered menu from Royal/T will feature a contemporary fusion of Japanese and French texture with organic California style. An exciting and eclectic sake-tini drink menu will be offered. Royal/T ‘s ambiance is a playful interpretation of the Meido Kissa’s (maid cafes) of Tokyo’s Akihabara District, where service staff wear Japanese subculture-inspired maid attire, to make their patrons feel relaxed and at home. Owner and art collector, Susan Hancock created this highly conceptual art space with an in-house cafe and shop, to celebrate contemporary design, art and Japanese subculture. Her own collection of contemporary Japanese art, includes work done by such artists as Chiho Aoshima and Yayoi Kusama.
Live and silent auction items feature professional artists’ works, as well as certificates for restaurants, movies, sporting and theatrical events, professional services, summer camps, electronics and other high-end items. A surprise “happening” is being planned for this year’s event. (Professional performers are donating their talents.)
The ARTWORKS! adults-only gallery show is a fun-filled evening of art, a live and silent auction, cocktails, jazz and hors d’oeuvres. It is widely attended not only by parents but also by arts supporters, city officials and the community. Always popular is a cocktail bar provided by Culver City Councilman Mehaul O’Leary of Joxer Daly’s complete with drink specials like “Picasso’s Plunge.” Additional special sake-tini drinks will be provided at one of three bars. Waitresses dressed in maid attire will be serving mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres from the Royal/T menu, and delicious cupcakes are on the dessert menu. Spectacular floral arrangements will be provided by Culver Center Flowers, and musical entertainment by Mr. Pascoe’s Jazz Trio.
“The Green Year” theme incorporates recyclables into the art projects, as well as, emailed “evites” instead of printed invitations.
The following morning, April 25, ARTWORKS! will conclude with a “Community Arts Day” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This art show, including students’ works as well auction items, will be open on Sunday for viewing by families and children. Art materials will be provided for both young and old to participate in a variety of art projects.
Kathleen McKernin, ARTWORKS! chairperson, said, “ARTWORKS! is our school’s largest annual fundraiser and a vital necessity for the funding of Farragut Elementary School’s public school arts programs. Now in its seventh year, ARTWORKS! has allowed Farragut to continue to expand its art integration. We now boast an artist-in-residence with a full time dedicated art room for all students grades K through 5. ARTWORKS! proceeds pay for our art instructor and for the art supplies needed for the year.”
“Last year, we were concerned that we wouldn’t make as much because of the economic downturn,” McKernin added. “In reaction, we added fabulous handmade items in the new ‘ARTWORKS! Bazaar’ area, and we increased our attendance to over 300 people. We made $10,000 dollars more than the previous year! We are constantly amazed by the community’s generosity. We’ve outgrown our space twice in the last seven years, and our exciting new location at Royal/T Artspace is just perfect.”
Royal/T Artspace is sponsoring a coloring contest for this year’s ARTWORKS! The winning pictures will be featured in the gallery displays during ARTWORKS! on April 24 and 25.
For ticketholders, childcare will be available for $20 per child at the nearby Josephson Academy of Gymnastics with pre-registration for school-aged students only.
“ARTWORKS! is a wonderful opportunity to not only showcase our students’ art, but also brings the entire community together for a fun and fabulous evening,” said Farragut Principal Eileen Carroll. “I am constantly impressed by the many dedicated parents that fundraise to support the outstanding arts and technology programs at Farragut School. Our students truly benefit from their hard work.”
For more information, please call (310) 842-4323.
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