PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Saratogan Harry Kline won the South Bay Art Momentum People's Choice Award recently for his two-dimensional and three-dimensional construction artwork. Not only did he win the People's Choice Award, but he also received the most votes from other artists at the awards reception.
SBAM sponsors the Phantom Galleries, an exhibit of artwork in various empty buildings in downtown San Jose. The contest was designed to select 15 pieces from the 70 submitted. Kline's work will be on display at 23 E. San Fernando St. in San Jose through August.
His construction is a Möbius loop, and its title is The Artist as a Work in Progress. The piece is made of two strips of heavy-duty paper (Strathmore 3 ply), twisted and taped. The end result is about 12 inches wide and 60 inches tall, hanging from the ceiling.
The paper itself contains eight pictures, executed before being twisted, of course. Six of the pictures are self-portraits of Kline, one shows his hand with a brush and one depicts the finished Möbius. The title reflects the artist's philosophy that "Each of us generates what we are going to become."
Kline's life is a case in point: he has been a computer design engineer, an attorney and now an artist. Semiretired, he still does legal work, but is devoting more and more of his time to art. The Möbius artwork moves with any slight breeze, constantly changing its position and look.
A member of the Saratoga Contemporary Artists, Kline has won honors in his very first show. Another SBAM finalist is Saratogan Barbara Horiuchi Lulu, whose submission was a brightly colored triptych abstract painted on aluminum. It's "ambiguous imagery," says the artist.
It, too, will be hanging at 23 E. San Fernando. Horiuchi Lulu taught seventh grade at Redwood last year, which she loved, but will be going back to X-ray work this year, giving her more time for artwork.
Other locals who entered artwork were Kelly Bryant, with a surrealist painting; Debbie Blessing, pinhole photography; Kate Mulligan, digital art; and Ron Garavaglia, abstract photo/painting.
VELVETEEN RABBIT: Trent Brunngraber, 7, plays lead role Joe, the boy who owns the velveteen rabbit, in the San Jose Children's Musical Theater production of The Velveteen Rabbit. The play is double cast and runs Aug. 1215 at the Montgomery Theatre at various times. Box office is 408.288.5437.
This is the second starring role for Trent in the past two years. He was one of the narrators in a Rising Star production of A Pocketful of Rhymes last summer. Trent has taken tap dance since he was 3 and recently added jazz dance. He will be a third-grader at Country Lane School.
Trent is following in the footsteps of older sister Kylie, who has been in eight CMT shows in the past four years. They are the theatrical offspring of Lee and Rod Brunngraber. Keana Aragon of Saratoga is also in Velveteen Rabbit, plays Flopsy the bunny.
MR. HANDYMAN: Saratogan John Waite recently opened the Mr. Handyman franchise for West Santa Clara County. Having rebuilt several homes, including his present home in Saratoga, he figures he has earned the Mr. Handyman title. Waite prides himself on being the professional alternative to do-it-yourself.
He graduated from Saratoga High in 1967 and worked in corporate education for 20 years. He was a member of the Saratoga Unified School Board for four years and served as a local Cub Scout leader. He was also a volunteer ski patrol member for 38 years.
Sounds like his pursuits have most often been rescue work. His phone is 408.399.9111 and the website is http://www.mrhandyman.com.
HOT FLASHES, COOL CONCEPTS: Saratogans displaying their works in the art show at Ericksen Gallery this month are Kay Duffy, Vivian Taggart and Mary Ann Henderson. A reception for the artists will be held Aug. 14, 47 p.m. The phone is 650.726.1598 and the gallery is at 524 Main St., Half Moon Bay.
FOSTERING FOSTER: Musician Joe Weed will tell the Stephen Foster story in a session at Espresso Cafe Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. It's a family affair, what with wife Martha Kendall on bass and daughter Katie Kendall-Weed, 18, on violin.
SENIOR PICNIC: The first picnic at the Saratoga Senior North Campus, 19848 Prospect Road, will be held Aug. 26, 47 p.m. Cost is $3.50, plus a side dish for eight. Hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, wine and soft drinks are provided. Signups will be taken at the Senior Center front desk.
The recent ice cream social was hailed a success, what with board President John Feemster doing some impromptu singing and new members getting acquainted. Pastel tablecloths reflected ice cream flavors.
AUDITIONS NOW: El Camino Youth Symphony has senior level openings for string bass, French horn, percussion, bass, trombone and tuba. Applications are now being taken for all instrumental musicians, ages 618. ECYS is at 650.327.2611 or www.ecys.org.
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By Mary Ann Cook