Artist Alexandra Nechita appears to have a soft spot in her heart for Coloradoit’s where she learned to ski — and after a visit to the Mile High City last week, it’s clear that the feeling is mutual.
The Romanian-born Cubist painter and muralist was here for a show at Aaron and Sandee LaPedis’ Fascination St. Fine Art, from which she donated a portion of all sales to Children’s Hospital.
But she also spent the better part of one day with patients enrolled in the hospital’s Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program and was so impressed with the assistance it provides to youngsters recovering from eating disorders that she asked if it would be OK for her to return at another time.
The answer, of course, was “yes!”
At a reception held at Fascination St., Nechita was able to reunite with collectors John and Mary Cohagen of Boulder. Their history goes back about a decade, when a mutual acquaintance asked John Cohagen if he’d mind spending a day teaching her to ski in Vail. “I’m not sure how much I taught her,” Cohagen said, “it’s probably best to say that we had a fun day together on the slopes.”
He also talked her into donating a painting to be auctioned at the hospital’s annual gala.
Matters of the heart.
Vintage clothing and accessories from the collection of Ann Walter of Anntie M’s Attic will be shown when The Guild of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation welcomes prospective members at a Valentine’s Day tea. Mary Pat Link opens her home for the 9:30 a.m. event; RSVP to Susie Hummell, 303-863-1200. . . . The fourth annual Hearts of All Ages, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, is a benefit for the University of Colorado Hospital Transplant Center. Peter and Marilyn Coors and Steve and Shannon Bangert are chairing the family-oriented event that will feature a photo op with Thunder, mascot of the Denver Broncos, an international buffet, music and games. CBS4 meteorologist Ed Greene is the emcee. Visit .
It’s all about money.
The Fort Collins-based Bohemian Foundation has awarded $510,000 in grants to 35 nonprofit organizations, including the Larimer County Family Leadership Training Institute, Colorado State University’s Environmental Learning Center and the Larimer County Food Bank Kid’s Cafe. . . . The I Have A Dream Foundation of Boulder is the recipient of a $15,000 gift from USTA Serves, the charitable arm of the U.S. Tennis Association … The Jackson National Life Insurance Community Foundation made grants totaling $14,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley and The Adoption Exchange. . . . A $5,000 gift from Encana Oil & Gas is helping the Assistance League of Denver buy clothing and supplies for the children served by ALD’s Operation School Bell program.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
