Picasso Night: Take 2 — Second artistic benefit takes place Saturday
The time has come to prep your artistic side and get ready to help another great, local cause, as coordinators of the original Picasso Night are eager to host Picasso Night: Take 2, featuring a beautiful piece of work by famed local artist Leoma Lovegrove, back at Bonita Bill’s, 702 Fisherman’s Wharf, Saturday, May 18, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Raising funds for the Ostego Bay Marine Science Center’s Summer Camp and its supplies, all who attend the artistic event will not only have a great adventure painting their own masterpiece, but will leave knowing they additionally helped a worthy cause.
“If you missed getting in on the action the first time around, don’t wait too long to sign up for this one, as we only have about 20 seats remaining and while that sounds like a big number it really isn’t,” said Shirley Semmer, lead coordinator of the event.
“With the helpful instruction of Vino’s Picasso, painters will be walked through, step by step, the process of creating Leoma Lovegrove’s ‘Blue Fish’ painting, an artsy, quirky blue fish with plenty of personality!” she continued. “Mercedes, owner of Vino’s Picasso, and her staff, will once again bring her studio to Bonita Bill’s and walk us through this awesome painting. It’s so fun and so therapeutic.”
A “BYOB” event, painters can also enjoy specially discounted wine prices from the Bonita Bill’s bar that evening, as well as some tasty snacks and hors d’oeuvres to please your palate along with your palette!
“We will also, once again, offer lots of great door prizes, too,” Shirley said. “Caroline Cook, with Johnson Brothers, once again donated 12 bottles of wonderful wine, and, since we’ll have some under-age participants, we’re also going to have a lovely gift from Yankee Candle; a floral arrangement from Michelle of My Florist, formerly FMB Florist; great gifts from Bath & Body Works, table-top easels, a wonderful art pack, donated by Mercedes of Vino’s Picasso; and we’re also going to do something a little different”
Since Mercedes is also donating a fabulous night out at Vino’s Picasso, as she kindly did during the last event, Shirley said, rather than all painters receiving only a door prize ticket, the night out will be offered separately, with painters receiving both a door prize ticket, as well as a special ticket specifically for drawing the winner of the special night out.
“That way, everyone has a chance to win that great night out, as well as receive another fabulous door prize that evening,” she said.
The cost to paint Leoma’s “Blue Fish”?that evening is $45 per person and includes everything you’ll need to create the masterpiece, provided by Vino’s Picasso: the nice-sized 12-by-16 canvas, paint, brushes even the clean-up is included!
“And, $10 from each registration goes directly to the Ostego Bay Foundation. So, come out, paint and help the summer camp for the kids,” Shirley said. “We’re hoping to raise enough funds to purchase a digital stereo microscope for the foundation, which will be used in the summer camp by the instructors, allowing them to show the students in real time what they’re looking at through a microscope, projected on a large presentation screen for the campers to see.”
All Picasso Night painters must be pre-registered and pre-paid to participate in the May 18 event, so call as soon as you can. Feel free to bring your own beer or wine.
For further information, call Shirley Semmer, 994-3134, or call the Vino’s Picasso studio, 288-6953, and the staff will be more than happy to answer any questions and assist with your reservation.
“We’re looking forward to seeing you all here,” Shirley said. “This will be more of a local beach group, with a lot of locals; it’ll be a nice group. This event is to bring people out, enjoy, and raise some funds to the foundation. Thank you for your support!”
Past and Future
During the last Picasso Night, enough funds were raised to offer an astounding 16 scholarships to local children interested in the Ostego Bay Marine Science Camp.
“I’m so happy to announce that all of the scholarships raised from the last Picasso Night have been filled each of the 16 children, who otherwise may not have been able to attend the camp,” Shirley eagerly stated. “I’d also like to give an additional thank-you to the businesses who so generously donated to this cause and for their continued support of the kids and the foundation. Because of them, we have been able to send 16 kids to camp. This event has blossomed, grown and become a truly wonderful community event.”
Other upcoming Ostego Bay fund-raisers include the annual Ostego Bay Golf Tournament Saturday, June 22 and Kid’s Fishing Tournament Saturday, June 29. For more information on the Ostego Bay Marine Science Foundation, visit OstegoBay.org.