Los Gatos Weekly-Times Main Street Mary Ann Cook Artists' reception at Tait attracts more than 200 RECORD-SHATTERING RECEPTION: The reception for artists Henri O'Connor and Anne Lamborn now exhibiting at the Tait Museum may have been a record breaker. Well over 200 people attended the Sunday reception, an astonishing number for a two-person exhibit, say museum watchers. How to explain the numbers? Well, both are longtime Los Gatans--well known, accessible and popular. O'Connor has taught life drawing and painting through adult education classes in this area for 11 years. Lamborn, a textile designer and artist, recently was awarded a commission for the Camden Lifetime Activities Center. This public artwork will be outside the center at Camden and Union avenues, San Jose, and is expected to be completed by early summer. Made of brushed aluminum, it's called "The Swimmers." It will depict five silhouettes of swimmers in various stages of the crawl. The wall below the suspended figures will be painted blue to represent the water. The work is a joint project of Lamborn and Ceevah F. Sobel of Menlo Park. O'Connor says he is one of the regulars at the Great Bear on N. Santa Cruz Avenue where he has breakfast to start the day in convivial fashion. "There are two photographers, two attorneys, a writer, a doctor and others I can't think of right now." Sounds like a jolly recipe for a baker's dozen. LIBRARY'S BACKBONE: Library director Gloria Grimes has been plagued for months with a bad back, and surgery was finally deemed the answer. She was operated on last week. The timing was tricky because the needs assessment survey report for the library is due the end of this month. And planning about how best to implement the survey's assessment will begin forthwith. Well, fortunately one can plan while recouping from surgery. Now the trick is to get ever-moving Grimes to stop carrying such a heavy load, figuratively and literally. WHAT'S FOR DINNER? The Butter Paddle, the volunteer-run gift shop in Saratoga that raises funds for Eastfield Ming Quong has come out with its own cookbook, a compendium of 250 recipes called Shared Tastes. So popular was this offering during the holiday season that 500 copies were sold in five weeks, thus necessitating another printing. New copies should be at the Paddle by early February. Call 867-1678 to check. Recipes include family favorites as well as fancy menus. Editors were Jan Dempsey, Lynda Godfrey, Marita Trobough and Kay Walker. The cover and inside artwork was done by auxiliary member Jorain Krueger. And a line drawing of the store was rendered by Priscilla Schneider, who is a sustaining member. The EMQ Junior Auxiliary has 85 members, and its president is Cathy Lynn. Store manager is Julie Wise. Sustaining members contribute money but not hours to the auxiliary. In time for Valentine giving is a new item, a Martini Misto, which supplies a very delicate touch of vermouth to the blend. Probably less than a soupçon. A larger-sized Misto is handy for olive-oil dispensing. A big seller last month were bears made from recycled fur, reports Kay Walker. POETRY EVENING: The second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. has been designated Poetry Night at Borders in Old Town. Los Gatan Frances Roberts proposed the idea, and Borders was all for it. Roberts led off the first evening appropriately enough Jan. 12 as featured reader. Prose writers are also encouraged to turn out to read their offerings. POETRY WORKSHOP: In other poetry news, Montalvo sponsors a workshop with Ellery Akers on Thursdays, Feb. 4, 11 and 18, from 1 to 5 p.m. Her book of poetry, Knocking on the Earth, was named one of the best books of the year for 1989. She was an artist resident at Montalvo, won five national awards for poetry, and has been featured on NPR. She is an artist and naturalist, as well as poet. Number to call is 831/429-5120. MORE MONTALVO: Montalvo Literary Arts Committee really scored a coup when the group scheduled best-selling author/poet Frances Mayes to speak there on Jan. 29. The program was sold out weeks ago. Mayes teaches at San Francisco State University, and is the author of Under the Tuscan Sun. WINTER CONCERT: A concert by the Don Haneke Chorale will be held Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 1550 Meridian Ave., San Jose. The concert is free for seniors and students, but a $15 donation is asked from others. On the program are "Cantata" and "Motet III" by Bach and "Solemn Vespers" by Mozart. The same program will be repeated Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave. Director Haneke lives in Saratoga, and his daughter, Diana Tomasi of Los Gatos will be soloist. She is also general manager of the group. For more information call her at 354-1185. DUKE SALUTE: The 100th birthday salute to Duke Ellington presented by the San Jose Symphony earlier this month included a backdrop exhibit of Los Gatan Bruni Sablan's paintings of Ellington at the SJ Civic Auditorium. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, January 27, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.