Tickets were sold out, mostly via word of mouth, months ago for the 4th Annual TPC/West Ranch Art & Wine Gala. Those that had been coming the last three years were ready to reserve a table again, along with several new friends. What for? The original art and wine auction with the young actors in medieval garb acting as spotters? The who’s who of Stevenson Ranch and beyond?
People came for all of it, but most importantly, they came to support the arts in the Santa Clarita Valley. With that said, the
“It’s good to support Cal Arts,” said Darlene Gandara. “As the kids have good intentions and, they keep us entertained for life.”
Rose Chegwin added, “Where would we be if we didn’t support the arts? And Guy (Lelarge) always had the best events.”
Co-Chairs Dave & Nancy Bossert, Cheri & Don Fleming, Guy LeLarge, Larry Mazzeo, Greg McWilliams, Howard Green, Michael Young with Executive Director Michele Reckon-Golden all worked together to facilitate the evening’s glamour.
“I think tonight’s event is the best ever,” said co-chair Guy Lelarge. “With killer art, great wine pairings, a beautiful dinner by Chef Otto – the best.”
In supporting the work by Guy Lelarge, Mark White said, “As Valencia Wine Company’s first customer, anything Guy does is done first class without compare. I support whatever he supports.”
Two “Cal Arts Moms”, Sue Reynolds and Ginger LeVang, echoed the night’s sentiments. Both felt that there is an incredible amount of “creativity coming out of Cal Arts” and they were “happy to be at an event that keeps the arts alive.”
With honorees from past years that included Buzz and Lois Aldrin, Roy P. and Sheri Disney, Roy Edward Disney and this year guests rubbed elbows with Alice Davis: At Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), Alice Estes Davis, married to Disney legend Marc Davis, enjoyed a fashionable Disney career of her own, designing and dressing animated figures for such beloved Disneyland attractions as “It’s a Small World” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
In 1963 Alice contributed her skills to the attraction “It’s a Small World” for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Collaborating with art designer and fellow Legend Mary Blair, Alice re- searched, designed and supervised the creation of more than 150 highly-detailed costumes for the Audio- Animatronics Children of the World.
During this time, Alice also formulated costuming procedures, set up a manufacturing base and developed quality control refurbishing techniques, which established the standards for three-dimensional characters in rides and shows created by WDI.
In 1965, she translated the pirates’ attire from Marc’s original drawings of the shiver-me-timbers cast and crew into clothing designs and patterns for all of the costumes featured in “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Two years later, when the attraction opened at Disneyland, guests were dazzled by the animated figures and their colorful, textured pirate-wear. Later, Alice contributed to General Electric’s “Carousel of Progress” and the “Flight to the Moon” attractions.
A portion of the gala’s proceeds will be donated in her honor to the Costume Design Program at CalArts.
Dave Bossert, at the helm of the event, spoke to guests as they were seated for dinner. Of course, there was quite a bit of applause, so Bossert had to tell the crowd to “Get it out of your system” as he modestly beamed at the support.
“First a thanks to all,” and Bossert went through his list of everyone that helped create the event. He then had a little fun with one of his co-chairs. “And of special note, I want Don Fleming to know that tonight’s auction program was designed and printed entire in the Santa Clarita Valley.” The laughter and applause grew once again.
“For those of you new to the event, it came about like this: I saw an art and wine event in Napa, dropped into the Valencia Wine Company and spoke to owner Guy Lelarge all about it, and what do you think about teaming up to do an Art & Wine Gala and hesaid ‘Let’s do it!’”
Bossert continued, “Before tonight, we have raised, and given out, over $160,000 to the Santa Clarita arts community. We don’t have a paid board, we’re all volunteers, and so everything we raise goes right to our programs.
The Auction
As in past years, the high-gloss auction book, at almost three-dozen pages, featured original art and highly sought after wines.
One piece of particular note, an original painting by Cathy Maltese, was an important auction item as the artist had agreed to donate reprints for all of the underwriter and benefactor guests. From there the auction book was a treasure trove of original sculptures, paintings, sketches, pottery, jewelry, celebrity photographs, several lots of rare wine, vacation getaways, electronics and a wide array of Disney-themed art by master illustrators.
As the auctioneer got the crowd bidding from one piece to the next, at one point, from the back of the room Bossert raised his microphone, “We have a bid over the phone from Colorado!” The piece, “Bacchus” by Marc Jacobs came paired with a bottle of Chateau de Pampelonne, and Bossert won the lot for the long-distance bidder.
Wines
Guy Lelarge arranged for guests to enjoyed a lovely Nicolas Feuillate Champagne, a Scharffenberger sparkling and the Novelist (a white Meritage of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon) from Cosentino, during the cocktail hour. Over dinner guests’ glasses were kept filled with a white Drouin Macon from Burgundy and a Red Mancia from northern Spain.
And once again Amy and Steve Elzer contributed outstanding wines to the auction from their amazing cellar collection. This year guests could bid on several lots that included BLAIR ESTATE- 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franco, Napa Valley; VERAISON – 2001 Synchrony, Napa Valley; KENWOOD – 1994 Cabernet Artist Series – Sonoma Valley; AUTEUR- 2006 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir; RADIO-COTEAU – 2005 Savoy Pinot Noir Anderson Valley; JONATA – 2006 Pinot Noir “La Poesia Ole Jonata” Sta. Rita Hills; WILLIAMS-SELYEM – 2001 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast CEJA – 2007 Syrah Sonoma Coast; CAMPESINO – 2008 Pinot Noir, Napa Valley; ARGIANO- 1997 Brunello Di Montalcino, Italy; VOSNE-ROMANEE – 2006 Red Burgundy Wine, France; ANTICA – 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley; CHAT AU LONGUEVILLE – 1995 Bordeaux, France; OPUS ONE- 2001 Napa Valley; PASSENGER – 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley; QUINTESSA – 1994 Red Wine Rutherford Napa Valley and FLORA SPRINGS – 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley.
Menu by Chef Otto
The appetizers and four-course dinner was artfully orchestrated by Chef Daniel Otto:
Starters
Assorted tray passed canapés & light fare Oyster & seafood station with shooters, spoons & condiments New Zealand lamb lollipops with fresh cherry & aged balsamic relish.
1st Course
American farmhouse & imported cheeses served with guava gelee, dried fruit, fresh berries & candied nuts.
2nd Course
Pan-seared scallop & fried soft shell crab atop sweet corn puree, blackberry jam & sweet red pepper coulis.
3rd Course
Wild mushroom salad in a puff pastry bowl splashed with aged balsamic, Cypress Grove goat cheese & served with petite composed salad.
Main Course
Prime filet served with fine herb & maytag bleu cheese compound butter atop sweet carrot puree, roasted fingerling potato & long stem artichoke splashed with pinot jus.
Dessert Course
Trio of house made European macaroons
One final quote, and to encompass the evening, came from Mayor Marsha McLean: “I’m just so happy I am here,” she began. “It’s a wonderful eclectic event. Of course the food is an adventure, the auction is both different and marvelous, but the best things is the money raised here tonight for all of the arts organizations. It’s a difficult time for non-profits so I am grateful for this event.”
The Who’s Who of Guests Supporting the Event
Table Sponsors, Wine Sponsors Guests, Artists and Special Thanks
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Nancy and Dave Bossert, CalArts, Canyon Theatre Guild, City of Santa Clarita, Chiquita Canyon, B-2, Duck Studios, Cheri and Don Fleming, Darlene and Robert Gandara, Sunny Apinchapong, Reuben Aquino, Daniel Arriago, Doug Ball, Bare Escentuals, Karen Blum, Lorelay Bove, Sherrill Britton, Trevor Carlton, Collectors Editions, Kat Cressida, Alice Davis, Brian Davis, Meredith Day, Sheri & Roy P. Disney, Lisa & Robb Dunlap, Harrison Ellenshaw, Steve Elzer, Eric Goldberg, Richard Golden, Rodel Gonzalez, Gina Goodrich, Steve Gunther, Don Hahn,
Debbie Henson, Michael Hickman, Claude Hulce, Lisa Keene, Bill Lance, Lasseter Family Winery, Michael Law, Bob Levey-Independent Events & Media, Carol Levey, Tennesse Loveless, Linda Bonita Lynch, Cristy Maltese, Karen McWhorton, Bill Morrison, Jewell Recto Morson, Christina Myers, Eric Poppleton, Fran Powell, Ro,Ma Jewelers, Barbara Rog, John Rowe, Jim Salvati, George Scribner, Mark Shoolery, Irene Sheri, Ken Shue, Bruce Smith, Sprout’s, Starbucks, Allison Thompson, Trader Joe’s, Valley Crest Trees, Frans Vischer ,Sandra Walker, Emily Young, Michael Young, Sheri and Roy P. Disney, New Wave Entertainment, Guy LeLarge & Helen LaPrairie, M3 Creative, Tracy and Greg McWilliams, Santa Clarita Ballet Company ,COC PAC K-12 Arts Program, Tobin James, Ken Brown and Wine Warehouse, Our Auctioneer, Bill Goebig and all of the wonderful volunteers.
Eve Bushman is a local writer that specializes in writing about wine. You can find great articles by Eve on her website at http://www.evewine101.com or email her at [email protected]. Her commentaries represent her own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization she may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon. Eve also writes at http://scvelitemagazine.com and you can follow Eve’s Wine 101 on Facebook and Twitter!
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