Saratoga News
News
The Saratoga Rotary Club's 2006 Art Show on May 7 at West Valley College will honor the 50th anniversaries of the city of Saratoga and the Saratoga Rotary Club. Joining for a salute to the anniversaries are (standing, from left) Art Show chairman David Montagna, Mayor Norman Kline and Saratoga Rotary Club president Reiko Iwanaga and (seated, from left) the local club's first president, Richard Rhodes, and club historian Warren Heid. The Saratoga Rotary Club held its first meeting in 1956 at the Saratoga Fire Station the same year the city was incorporated.
Rotary Art Show's come a long way in 50 years
By Jason Sweeney
The first Saratoga Rotary Art Show was a small affair in the Village 49 years ago. By 1989, it had grown too big for the Village and moved to West Valley College.
The Saratoga Rotary Art Show has become a major annual event that has raised more than $1.5 million for charity.
This Saturday, Saratoga's Taiko Drummers will start playing at 9 a.m. at West Valley College, signaling the opening of the 50th annual Saratoga Rotary Art Show. The art show runs until 5 p.m. on May 6 on the college campus at 14000 Fruitvale Ave.
Rotarian David Montagna is this year's show chairman. For his day job, Montagna works as a Realtor for Coldwell Banker. "Until this year, I thought that's what I do for a living. Now I'm an art show chairman. Things have gotten pretty hectic over the last month."
Planning for the one-day event takes a year. More than 100 artists were selected to participate through a jury process. Screening of artwork took place Jan. 28. Lissa Jones, a corporate art consultant; Carol Hutchinson, a Saratoga artist specializing in oil painting; and David Ogle, a noted sculptor and ceramist, judged paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography, fiber arts and crafts.
"Certainly, we have lots of great art," Montagna said. "This year a third of the artists are new." He said some of the artists are homegrown, but others come from as far away as Colorado and Florida.
Live music and good food from the food booths are also big parts of the show, Montagna said. "The main attraction as far as food goes is the Saratoga Pepperbelly," which Montagna describes as a sausage with a secret sauce invented years ago by a Saratoga Rotarian.
A raffle will be held for a three-year lease on a 2006 C-230 Mercedes-Benz sports sedan. "Only 2,500 tickets will be sold, so the chances of winning are pretty good," Montagna said. The winner has the option of taking the lease, valued at $15,000, or taking $10,000 in cash.
Most of the 121 Saratoga Rotarians are expected to volunteer at the event, with friends and family helping.
A large contingent of volunteers from Saratoga schools will also pitch in. Rotary club president Reiko Iwanaga said about 150 local students are volunteering. The Saratoga High School football team is providing the manpower both before and after the event.
"All of the proceeds from the art show go to fund the various charities we support," Iwanaga said. "We're looking forward to support from the public and to everyone participating."
Through its charitable foundation, the Saratoga Rotary Club has donated to such causes as the eradication of polio and the building of schools in impoverished countries. This year, its featured organizations are the Hospice of the Valley, Sunday Friends and Shady Shakespeare.
Coldwell Banker, Alain Pinel and the San Jose National Bank are the main sponsors of the art show this year. Numerous local companies and individuals are also helping to sponsor the event, Montagna said.
"The weather will be great, I'm sure," he said. "Parking is free and entry is free. The sun is finally out, and the West Valley campus is such a beautiful place to be."
