Editor’s note: The event photo was taken by Jerry Lindsey; Theresa Brandon took the closeup.
A spectacular, “sell-out” fundraiser for The Loft on Main occurred on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at Morrison Institute of Technology, 701 Portland Avenue, Morrison, IL. Months of decision making and extensive collaboration converged, during three hours of celebration. Kim Ewoldsen remarked, “200 tickets were sold, but [about 215] attended. We accommodated more.” Event hours were from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., but people lingered over conversation, unwilling to end the satisfying festivity, even as tables were stored and chairs set up for the morning church service.
Immediately upon entering, the setting created an elegant, visually-pleasing ambiance. Ewoldsen reported the decorating team brought their taste and personal belongings to adorn the venue. “They transformed MIT from clinical to magical and exquisite!”
Three of Ned J. Nesti, Jr.’s colorful, woven rugs decorated the lobby floor. Several lamps contributed by committee members and pillows shared by Liz Woods created a cosy spot for conversing, eating, and drinking. The cash bar was a collaboration between business owners at opposite ends of Main Street. Kevin and Lynn Kenady set up a miniature version of their Brick Block Pub, which is adjacent to Happy Joe’s Pizza. Six wine varieties, ten craft beers, bottled water, canned Pepsi/Diet Pepsi, and champagne were available. These were served throughout the night from a custom constructed, cherry, serving bar. It was built by, and on loan from, John Martin.
Kelly Vegter had planned the menu and attractive food display. Varied, appealing hors d’ oeuvres and dainty desserts, catered by Dody Ogburn and her Morrison Community Hospital Dietary Department, were displayed on shiny serving trays (loaned by Vegter and Sherrie Shirk) and tiered, decorated tables. Strolling Celebrity waiters in jaunty, black berets offered guests trays of chicken puffs, sausage-spinach balls, and skewered tomatoes, olives, and pasta.
Music by “The Connection” trio (Paul Engwall, Aaron Johnson, and Jim Roeder) filled the auditorium and wafted into the hall and lobby.
The auditorium was a gallery of pieces donated from artists who display at The Loft on Main. Art hung from the walls, waiting for Live Auction high bidders to take it home. Barney Habben–an exhibitor at the local gallery–would be the auctioneer. Along the perimeter, tables held smaller art objects, which were available for Silent Auction bidding.
In the room, dark blue table cloths were stenciled with famous artists’ quotes in gold paint, compliments of Ann Slavin. She also adorned each table with a circle garland of simulated laurel leaves and glittery glass circles. She had created a mold of a personal, equine art work; cast several, stocky horses in concrete; painted the kneeling horses in creamy-white. Shirk and Slavin resurrected purchased sculptural pieces, used in a previous event: intertwined metallic gold circles. Each was elevated on a decorative base. Slavin and Shirk used blue and white vases as the third type of tablescape. These tall pieces were made more imposing by displaying them on stacks of art books from home collections and borrowed from Ann Frame.
The culminating event was the auction of a commissioned painting by Stuart Roddy, former art teacher at Morrison High School and now employed at Sterling High School. He attended the event. His painting was projected onto a screen but hidden from view. Throughout the evening donations from tables were collected, and parts of his masked painting were revealed.
Roddy’s subject matter was to be “a snapshot of Morrison,” that would be recognizable to all locals and former residents “who walked down that road,” said Nesti. The rendition had begun with a meeting in “June or July,” stated Kim Ewoldsen, “to start the process. In September Ned became the liaison. Reference photos were supplied to Roddy” as inspiration.
One of those photos captured locals Joan and youngest daughter Elise Vander Bleek on a stroll, in the 100 block of E. Main Street. Without sharing his choice of subject matter with The Loft on Main Board members, Roddy began his work with oils on gesso board.
The figures in the painting were not identified during bidding; it has no title. The commissioned painting sold for $2500 to Joan and Luke Vander Bleek of Morrison. Their bid amounted to 20% of the evening’s donations of “about $12,500,” according to Ewoldsen. Besides funding programs at The Loft on Main, “a portion of that [money] will go to scholarships and classes for special needs students. We now have ties to other communities, because of this phenomenal event!” she concluded.
To cap the night, Ewoldsen announced that Morrison will receive a Governor’s Award, complete with Highway 30 sign, because of the success of The Loft on Main. The award will be presented on Thursday, November 15.
Joan Vander Bleek, a Loft Board member, loves the painting–as well as its subject matter. She knew when first she saw it on the screen, that she would purchase it. Husband Luke did her bidding, but from where he sat, he did not know the people walking were his wife and daughter! Joan noted, “Stuart Roddy is a working artist. He generously gave his time, talent, and energy [to create this painting.] You know where it is [in Morrison.] He is super generous, and this is a great gift for the Loft!”
Jane Ann Ardapple bid back-and-forth with Luke Vander Bleek. She stated, “I just think Stuart is an amazing artist! I wanted his art work to be recognized for its value. I thought is was a beautiful piece of art. That was ‘my’ Main Street since I was a child. It is a beautiful rendering. I am also happy it is going to a home, where it will be loved and appreciated.”
