Art stirs the senses in so many ways, and whether a piece is thought-provoking, breathtaking, super-cool or “out there,” the bottom line is that it’s meant to be enjoyed.
For the past three years, hundreds of Coloradans have added to their collections and, one suspects, enhanced their enjoyment, by making purchases at the nonprofit Salon d’Arts.
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Founded by Boulder resident Natalie Rekstad-Lynn and held at the Colorado History Museum, Salon is a multifaceted event that over a three-week period offers free viewing, children’s workshops, bilingual programs and tactile tours. It culminates with a gala at which the works contributed by artists from across the nation are sold at a fixed-price lottery.
This year, proceeds went to Colorado UpLIFT and the Webb-Waring Institute for Cancer, Aging and Antioxidant Research. “This is the second year for Webb-Waring to be a beneficiary, and it’s a good fit,” noted Dr. John Repine, the president and CEO. “We make money and meet a lot of new friends.” Webb-Waring supporters attending the gala included Repine’s wife, Dr. Karen Repine; Ed McEntire; and Mike Ross.
UpLIFT founder and chief executive Kent Hutcheson was there, too, along with his wife, Diane.
Both charities were represented in the choice of honorary chairmen for Salon. Mark Brown, co-founder of the financial advisory firm Brown & Tedstrom, is a member of the UpLIFT board, while Gregg Marshall is a Webb Waring director. Marshall and his wife, Terre, also an honorary chair, are both collectors and newlyweds (they married last summer) and have been involved with Salon since its start.
Terre Marshall is a nationally recognized communications consultant and public speaker; her husband is the founder, chairman and CEO of Sygma Network, the primary source of food and related products for thousands of chain restaurants across America.
Since Salon d’Arts 2004, Rekstad-Lynn and her husband, Scott Lynn, became parents (their first child was born eight months ago). She also has decided to “shake things up a bit” in 2006 by having one-third of the art be modern and contemporary. “Many of our buyers like (currently featured) representational art, so we don’t want to do away with it,” Rekstad-
Lynn said, “but there’s a definite market, too, for something else.”
Gala-goers enjoyed wine and a rich selection of hors d’oeuvres, along with the excitement of discovering who had purchased what.
Artists on hand for the party included Quang Ho, Kevin Weckbach, Dan Ostermiller and Ron Hicks.
Browsers and buyers were dentist Julika Ambrose with Randy Weeks, the president and CEO of Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Vance Kirkland Museum curator Hugh Grant; Warren and Denise Cohen; John and Lynn Grigsby (she was Salon’s hospitality chair); BJ Dyer and Guenther Vogt of Bouquets; public relations guru Wendy Aiello and Realtor Douglas Kerbs; Denver Rotarian Todd Bacon and his wife, Nancy; Dee Writer and Jim Rumsey; Harry and Beth Ells; and Nancy Koontz, local representative for Los Angeles artist Ryan Wurmser, whose “Braids,” an oil-on-linen portrait of a girlfriend, received much attention.
Seven community leaders regarded as Champions of Change were honored when Escuela Tlatelolco held its fifth annual Flor y Canto Festival at the Denver Center Galleria.
Co-chairs Steve Hillard (Council Tree Communications) and Ann Padilla (Sunnyside Temps) planned an evening that celebrated not only the courage and commitment of the award winners but the poetry and music of the Chicano, Mexicano and indigenous people, as well.
Former Denver Mayor Federico Peña was the honorary chairman and the city’s current chief executive, John Hickenlooper, was a special guest.
Award recipients were Western Sho-
shone elders Carrie and the late Mary Dann (Humanitarian and Social Justice); actress Lupe Ontiveros (Art, Literature and Culture); Zee Ferrufino, owner and CEO of KBNO Radio and Denver Fine Furniture (Business and Community Development); the Rev. Lucia Guzman, a member of the Denver School Board (Education); U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (Politics and Social Action); and dance company founder Cleo Parker Robinson (Humanitarian).
Tribute also was paid to Escuela founder Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales, who died earlier this year. His daughter, Nita, continues his legacy by serving as the school’s chief executive.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
More online: See additional pictures from Flor y Canto and Salon d’Arts. denverpost.com
