Saratoga Sampler

Art aficionado believes in sharing the views

By Mary Ann Cook

COVER BOY: Once again the gardens of Saratogan Donald Head's Grand View estate are gracing the covers of an art magazine. This time it's the July issue of SouthwestArt. And this time the focus is on sculpture. The cover shows a piece by Native American sculptor Allan Houser, and the work is called "Dance of the Eagle."

I titled this item "Cover Boy" because the sculpture looks like a boy dressed in eagle costume, poised for flight. His arms are outstretched and one leg is bent, with the other stretched out gracefully behind. Head purchased the work in 1983, and it is still a favorite of his.

He calls it "elegant as well as beautiful, spiritual as well as warlike" in the magazine piece, written by Bonnie Gangelhoff. Its new owner didn't have any firm idea about where it was going to be placed, unlike most of his sculpture purchases, but the work ended up on the broad expanse of lawn behind the main house.

Ironically enough, Head says nothing in the scene shown on the cover is still extant. "All that you see on this cover is gone in preparation for the new landscaping, " he notes.

That's because that area of the grounds is in the midst of a three-year project to house treasures from China and France, including fountains and sculptures, mostly from a city square of treasures purchased from China. The land will be elevated to 20 feet above the apricot orchard, along with displaying the new art treasures.

Head made his fortune as a real estate developer and for 20 years was an English professor at San Jose State University. He is amazingly generous to students and art lovers alike, opening his home for ballet benefits, among other fundraising events.

But his philosophy is akin to what Tennyson expressed in his poem, The Palace of Art, that art is only fully enjoyed when it's shared. "There's a need to see art through other people's eyes, and I think art is enhanced through their insights," he says in the article.

THRASHER TOURNAMENT: The golf tournament known as the Thrasher Memorial Youth Tournament will be held at San Jose Municipal Golf Course Aug. 17. Doug Thrasher was a community activist who died last year and was particularly involved in youth activities.

The tourney is a benefit for area young people, including scholarships. Last year's tourney netted $7,354. The format is a "best ball scramble"; and the cost to enter is $125. The contact is Bill Ready at 408.265.8700. Checks should be made out to the Los Gatos Community Foundation.

Participants are asked to write "Doug Thrasher" on the check. Dinner and a raffle are part of the package, and the action begins at 10 a.m. Non-golfers can sign up for the dinner only.

Last year local lawyer Marion Whittaker joined the tourney on the spot when she was told it would be quite a while before she could tee off on her own. She had such a good time, she signed up for this year, reports Mike Fitzsimmons, one of the organizers of the event.

The Thrashers owned Thrasher Termite Company and worked closely with Saratoga Realtors. Doug's widow, Janet continues to run the company. There are three Thrasher children--Lindsey, Garrett and Douglas.

NEW VENUE: The work of the Saratoga Community of Painters, a handful of watercolorists who can be found painting local scenes in plein air, is now being shown at the Plumed Horse. Owner Klaus Pache saw them painting outdoors and insisted they hang in his restaurant.

The group formed after taking lessons from Judy Puthuff, and she continues as their informal leader.

BALL BENEFICIARIES: Some 62 nonprofit organizations benefited from the $1.5 million raised at the spring Silicon Valley Charity Ball. Despite the downturn in the economy, the ball supplied substantial funds to representatives of such agencies as the Second Harvest Food Bank, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Emergency Housing Consortium.

PORTRAIT DEMO: Artist Gerald Boyd will demonstrate his oil portraiture techniques at the Los Gatos Art Association meeting on Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Los Gatos. Boyd works in pastels and watercolor, as well as oils. He began his career as a painter of outdoor advertising. Now that that craft is virtually extinct he has switched his efforts to fine arts.

RECENT GRAD: Reynold Wright Jr. graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base recently. He is the son of Jana and Reynold Wright of Saratoga and a '97 grad of Prospect High School. He's a Reserve Airman 1st Class.

DREAMSCAPES: A reception for artist Paul Nowicki will be held at the Los Gatos Art Museum on Aug. 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. Nowicki makes 3D models of worlds that exist only in his imagination, some of which may make noise, have odors, textures and tastes.

He was a model maker for TV, movies, commercials and toys. His work will be on display at the museum until Sept. 29.

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