May 2020 Newsletter
Click here to download a printable PDF version.
During the Depression, one was put upon his own resources so constantly … Nobody was writing War and Peace, and nobody was doing an Unfinished Symphony, but in little ways, there was a tremendous amount of creativity. I’m just talking about everyday living.
~ Harry Partch, The Dreamer That Remains
Letter from the Wrightwood Arts Center
Dear Wrightwood Arts Center friends,
We draw enormous inspiration from the thousands of acts of kindness and professionalism—dedicated healthcare workers and others who are rising to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 health care crisis, saving lives, delivering groceries, hauling trash, and so on. We also have hometown heroes in Wrightwood!
In the spirit of the above quote—”the creativity of everyday living”—the Wrightwood Arts Center asks all of our supporters to forego renewing memberships right now (although you may renew if you like) and focus your support on local organizations and activities that are helping those most affected by this pandemic—family, friends, neighbors and all in our small mountain community. One of the WAC board members has committed to match your gift to local organizations up to a total of $500, so be sure to let us know to whom you have donated.
Instead of WAC’s usual newsletter list of Arts activities, below we offer a limited list of local organizations that are helping kids, families, seniors, and other residents.* They are nourishing body and soul by reaching out to those in need and those who may feel isolated. The Arts Center will continue to post information about a variety of virtual Arts activities, so check our Facebook page WrightwoodArts from time to time to learn more.
We will get through this, stronger than before. Wrightwood is a community with deep ties and compassion. It is evident now more than ever.
With thanks and best wishes,
Wrightwood Arts Center Board of Directors
Joan McCandless, President
Local Resources*
Wrightwood Elementary PTG is offering $100 grocery gift cards to families in need. You can DONATE to WW Elementary PTG, POB 1232, WW 92397.
Wrightwood Property Owners Association (WWPOA) has created a local Helpline, 760.249.8038. Residents may call the phone number to request non-emergency physical or emotional help or to request contact if they are feeling isolated. The Helpline is intended to connect residents with a variety of resources. You can also volunteer.
Timberline Lions Club in collaboration with WWPOA is sponsoring The Wrightwood Manna Project/Debra Gonzales offering Friday soup meals to Wrightwood shut-ins and seniors. For more information, contact the WW Helpline at 760.249.8038 or Sandy Hanlon at 661.917.0257. You can DONATE to Timberline Lions Club, POB 444, WW 92397.
Other resources where donations are not taken:
Snowline School District is providing 3 meals on weekdays to families who drive through to pick up meals. Children (up to age 18) must be present in the car and need not be a student at Snowline. Pick-up is at WW Elementary School between 10-12pm. Kids get a chance to see their teachers and the school mascot!
Mountain Hardware will deliver goods while people are isolating.
Jensen’s will also deliver food and spirits.
Kudos all around!
__________
*Feel free to send info about other local resources to WrightwoodArts@gmail.com and we will be happy to post these. Our apology to any group we have missed.
Adieu and Welcome!
Joyce Wonderly, the Vice-President of the Wrightwood Arts Center (WAC), will be leaving Wrightwood in May with her husband Chet Noll, heading to the Northwest to be closer to family. Her contribution to the Arts in Wrightwood is significant—growing Keyboard Art School of Music to serve more than 145 students in the Tri-Community, producing the Wrightwood Classical Concert Series and, two years ago, co-founding the current Wrightwood Arts Center with Tim Green and Joan McCandless. We thank you for your service Joyce and wish you the absolute best!
As we bid Joyce adieu, we welcome Tim Benge, a Wrightwood resident, who will serve as Vice-President of the Arts Center beginning in May. Tim brings a wealth of experience to the WAC board as he also serves as Vice-President of the Southwest Music Education Association with many years as a music educator. We love his enthusiasm for Wrightwood and the Arts and know he will enhance the WAC vision to make Wrightwood a destination for the Arts.
Online Classes at Keyboard Art School of Music
Keyboard Art School of Musics has launched their Summer Program with classes for the whole family – from Meet the Instruments to Production & Beats and Intro to Photography. Sign up and reserve your spot in our classes & summer lessons today!
Please contact Keyboard Art through their website with any questions.
Everyday Masterpieces
Visiting museums to experience art in person is not an option these days. But that hasn’t stopped people from engaging with—and using their own bodies—to recreate works by Old Masters and contemporary artists alike. See this Instagram page for examples of what can be done using everyday materials. No canvas or paint necessary!
It can be pretty simple: Choose a work of art and three find items around your house to recreate it. Please send pictures of your creation to WrightwoodArts@gmail.com. We will post them on our website and Facebook page for all to enjoy.
Everyday “shelter in place” life—imitating art. We can hardly wait to see what you come up with!
Submit Your Art
We would also like to share any other samples of are you’ve been working on while sheltering in place. If you have any finished works or works-in-progress that you’d like to us to share on Facebook or in these newsletters, just send them to WrightwoodArts@gmail.com. Don’t forget to include the titles, links, or anything else you want to share.
Poem of the Month
Image: “Cour des Voraces” by Kenneth Borg. The haiku was written by Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco for Rattle’s Ekphrastic Challenge, March 2020, and selected as the Editor’s Choice. Published with permission of Rattle.
Haiku by Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco
rain
eats our chalk drawings
one day older
—from Rattle’s Ekphrastic Challenge
Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco lives in California’s Central Valley with her husband and son. She co-edits One Sentence Poems, an online journal of short poetry, and also works as a librarian. She’s the author of the book Various Lies.