 Illustration by David Greenwood-Mathé | OH, WHAT STARRY NIGHTS! “This morning I saw the countryside from my window a long time before sunrise, with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big,” wrote Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo. Stars! Stars! Stars! Shining over Hyde House is the morning star and a firmament of glittering volunteer stars. Together, they caused the winter sky to glow over our recent Holiday Boutique. |
Always shining bright, and offering assistance before I can even ask, David Greenwood-Mathé—my beloved husband, artist, former gallery owner and artCentral’s illustrious prepitor (“worker person”)—always knows just what to do and how. All for the cause of art, he greets guests lookin’-extra-good in his new metro-sexual haircut (à la Eric Haun) while he sports the “oops!” evidence of his dedication. (We spent our last “date night” in the ER with David receiving eight stitches to close his hand wound acquired while installing Boutique banners.)
With the two of us continuing to make Boutique preparations, volunteer extraordinaire, Lora Waring, stamps and folds and labels the invitations and newsletters announcing our Boutique. Then she goes shopping for an abundance of gift bags and wrappings she donates for our shoppers to take home filled with treasures. Then she creates and donates an amazing collection of cookies that delight each guest who walks through our green door. Every non-profit needs at least one Lora!
artCentral is blessed with an abundance of equally passionate volunteer stars—each working for the love of art and artists, each making unique contributions to enrich the cultural life of our hometown!
When I ask volunteers, three board members and Judy Goff, to share their love for our Holiday Boutique, they generously agree!
Jackie Boyer: “One of the best parts about the Holiday Boutique is working with like-minded people who have fun getting the work done. Back in October when we started putting together all the bits and pieces, the multiplicity of tasks seemed rather daunting, but we put on our "do" hats and got busy. Successfully creating a beautiful event, the most challenging part is choosing for my family members among the great gift ideas. I like so many I see! I marvel at the artists’ talents! While just looking is a pleasure, minding my budget is easy for each artist presents pocket friendly selections. Those on my gift list who receive an amaryllis have something to brag about all year.”
Betsy Flanigan: “artCentral’s Holiday Boutique is a much anticipated holiday highlight for me. I enjoy collaborating with our dedicated group of volunteers who spend many hours planning and creating the event. I’m very rewarded seeing the hard work result in a beautifully decorated Hyde House filled with lovely items to gift to others—or to keep for yourself. Equally rewarding is knowing that funds raised will help artCentral continue its mission to promote the love of art in our community.”
Judy Goff: “What do I like most about artCentral's Holiday Boutique? Oh, the "most" is hard to narrow down because it's a little of this, a little of that—enjoying so many varied creations by very talented artists; visiting with those (in-a-good-mood people) who happily arrive looking for that item that speaks to them or is a perfect gift for someone else; watching shoppers enjoy getting the early Christmas spirit; seeing the silent auction excitement of people bidding on quality paintings in hopes they can add something new to their art collection or perhaps start their first collection; being incredibly proud of all the talent in the Carthage community and their willingness to contribute works to benefit the outreach programming of artCentral. What do I like most about the Boutique? Actually, I like a whole lot of this and a whole lot of that!”
Jane Vandenberg: “Hanging the first garland always puts me in the holiday spirit. When the Christmas tree is up and goes all sparkly with lights and ribbon, I can almost hear Hyde House say ‘thank you’. Our Holiday Boutique is a fund raiser necessity and so much more. We get to showcase our beautiful home and talented artists as we offer unique holiday shopping to our community. Working at the Boutique I get to greet old friends and meet new ones. Seeing the originality of the art generously donated by our artist members for our fund raising Silent Auction is exciting and inspiring. In the end, the Holiday Boutique makes the shoppers happy, offers the artists a charming selling venue and our programming coffers breathe a sigh of relief. It is a special privilege to be a small part of the large process of producing the Holiday Boutique. I’m always a little sad when the garlands and lights are put away and Hyde House must wait for the blossoms of spring and her new wardrobe.”
To all artCentral’s Holiday Boutique volunteers I offer a bouquet of “Thank Yous” for shining in artCentral’s brilliant firmament: Maddie Capps, Carolyn Cole, Pat Goff, Piper Feurt, Ann Huckstep, Helen Kunze, Olivia Pierce, Miriam Putnam, Emily Rose, Brenda Sageng, Allan Vandenberg, Wendy Verbeek, Corinne Waggoner, Paula Ware and Gail White. To our underwriter, HOMETOWN BANK, and to our supporters Bela Flora Nurseries, Carthage Chamber of Commerce and Fair Acres Family YMCA we say “Thank You” for your parts in making possible artCentral’s beautiful Holiday Boutique!
With the two of us continuing to make Boutique preparations, volunteer extraordinaire, Lora Waring, stamps and folds and labels the invitations and newsletters announcing our Boutique. Then she goes shopping for an abundance of gift bags and wrappings she donates for our shoppers to take home filled with treasures. Then she creates and donates an amazing collection of cookies that delight each guest who walks through our green door. Every non-profit needs at least one Lora!
artCentral is blessed with an abundance of equally passionate volunteer stars—each working for the love of art and artists, each making unique contributions to enrich the cultural life of our hometown!
When I ask volunteers, three board members and Judy Goff, to share their love for our Holiday Boutique, they generously agree!
Jackie Boyer: “One of the best parts about the Holiday Boutique is working with like-minded people who have fun getting the work done. Back in October when we started putting together all the bits and pieces, the multiplicity of tasks seemed rather daunting, but we put on our "do" hats and got busy. Successfully creating a beautiful event, the most challenging part is choosing for my family members among the great gift ideas. I like so many I see! I marvel at the artists’ talents! While just looking is a pleasure, minding my budget is easy for each artist presents pocket friendly selections. Those on my gift list who receive an amaryllis have something to brag about all year.”
Betsy Flanigan: “artCentral’s Holiday Boutique is a much anticipated holiday highlight for me. I enjoy collaborating with our dedicated group of volunteers who spend many hours planning and creating the event. I’m very rewarded seeing the hard work result in a beautifully decorated Hyde House filled with lovely items to gift to others—or to keep for yourself. Equally rewarding is knowing that funds raised will help artCentral continue its mission to promote the love of art in our community.”
Judy Goff: “What do I like most about artCentral's Holiday Boutique? Oh, the "most" is hard to narrow down because it's a little of this, a little of that—enjoying so many varied creations by very talented artists; visiting with those (in-a-good-mood people) who happily arrive looking for that item that speaks to them or is a perfect gift for someone else; watching shoppers enjoy getting the early Christmas spirit; seeing the silent auction excitement of people bidding on quality paintings in hopes they can add something new to their art collection or perhaps start their first collection; being incredibly proud of all the talent in the Carthage community and their willingness to contribute works to benefit the outreach programming of artCentral. What do I like most about the Boutique? Actually, I like a whole lot of this and a whole lot of that!”
Jane Vandenberg: “Hanging the first garland always puts me in the holiday spirit. When the Christmas tree is up and goes all sparkly with lights and ribbon, I can almost hear Hyde House say ‘thank you’. Our Holiday Boutique is a fund raiser necessity and so much more. We get to showcase our beautiful home and talented artists as we offer unique holiday shopping to our community. Working at the Boutique I get to greet old friends and meet new ones. Seeing the originality of the art generously donated by our artist members for our fund raising Silent Auction is exciting and inspiring. In the end, the Holiday Boutique makes the shoppers happy, offers the artists a charming selling venue and our programming coffers breathe a sigh of relief. It is a special privilege to be a small part of the large process of producing the Holiday Boutique. I’m always a little sad when the garlands and lights are put away and Hyde House must wait for the blossoms of spring and her new wardrobe.”
To all artCentral’s Holiday Boutique volunteers I offer a bouquet of “Thank Yous” for shining in artCentral’s brilliant firmament: Maddie Capps, Carolyn Cole, Pat Goff, Piper Feurt, Ann Huckstep, Helen Kunze, Olivia Pierce, Miriam Putnam, Emily Rose, Brenda Sageng, Allan Vandenberg, Wendy Verbeek, Corinne Waggoner, Paula Ware and Gail White. To our underwriter, HOMETOWN BANK, and to our supporters Bela Flora Nurseries, Carthage Chamber of Commerce and Fair Acres Family YMCA we say “Thank You” for your parts in making possible artCentral’s beautiful Holiday Boutique!
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