On the Town: Arts supporters reveal their secret

November 05, 2013|By David Laurell

One of Friday's clandestine contributors, actor… (Photo by David Laurell )

Billed as the most colorful, secretive and not-to-be-missed fundraiser of the year, the Burbank Arts For All Foundation unveiled more than 600 secretly created 4 inch by 6 inch original works of art at its Secret Art Show held this past Friday at the ATB Studios.

Throughout the evening, hundreds of art lovers and foundation supporters filed into the Providencia Avenue production facility to peruse the clandestine creations created by various celebrities, local artists, studio animators, educators, students and community leaders.

Signed on the back, the artists who served as the creators were only revealed as their works were selected for a $40 donation.

Among the signatures to be found on the backs of the creations were those of Burbank Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy and Councilman Jess Talamantes as well as actresses Kristin Bauer of HBO's “True Blood,” Valerie Mahaffey and Rebecca Wisocky of Lifetime's “Devious Maids” and Lea Thompson, best-known for her roles in the “Back to the Future” movies.

Other notables who contributed miniature masterpieces were NBC-4 weathercaster Fritz Coleman and “Today in LA” anchor Alycia Lane, talk show host Conan O'Brien and his sidekick Andy Richter, actors Dick Gautier, best-known for “Fun With Dick and Jane,” Michael Tucci, who played Sonny in the 1978 film “Grease,” film directors Mark Helfrich and Brett Ratner and Disney producer Roy Conli.

Proceeds from Friday's art show will benefit the Burbank Arts For All Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure every student in local public schools receives a quality arts education as part of their core curriculum.

Chaired by Karen Broderick, event committee members who staged last week's show included Caroline Solberg, Alexandra Helfrich, Debbie Wade, Jamie Butterworth and Beth Morrison.

Others who made the evening a success included the foundation's Director of Development Trena Pitchford, volunteers Connie Trimble, Don Burgess, Cynthia Wagner, Derrick Kolus and Lucila Garcia, and the organization's executive committee comprised of chairwoman Carrie Brown, vice chair Bob Mohler and members Mauro Diaz, Heidi Trotta, Craig Murray, Barbara Beckley, Ruth Davidson-Guerra, Kevin McCarney, Joan McCarthy, Monica Newhouse-Rodriguez, Lili Rossi and Suzanne Weerts.

Among the special guests who attended Friday's show were former Burbank Mayors Michael Hastings, Dave Golonski and Marsha Ramos, Burbank Unified Supt. Jan Britz, School Board member Ted Bunch and Peggy Flynn, who serves as the liaison between the foundation and the school district.

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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.

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