Special to The Dorchester Banner/DCA
Pictured are, front row, from left: Paul Clipper, Windy Karpavage, Dion Banks, Alan Brock; Second Row: Brandon Hesson, Laura Heikes, Nancy Snyder, Lisa Krentel and Ann Geiger. Not pictured: Charles Ross, Dr. Graham Slaughter and Paul Winters[/caption] Dorchester Center for the Arts (DCA) asks members and supporters to mark their calendars for the 8th Annual Guest Artist Gala, which is set for April 18. The event will be held in the 2nd floor Performance Hall and chairing the event this year is Francesca Rendell. The event theme is “Starry, Starry Night” and in addition to DCA Annual Sponsors MTS Broadcasting and The Dorchester Banner; this year the lead Guest Artist Sponsor is 1880 Bank. The gala includes a live and silent auction, music for listening and dancing, hors d’oeurves to satisfy food cravings, and a cash bar. So what is Guest Artist? Key community leaders, who are not perceived as artists, are selected to be “Guest Artists.” Local individuals in the arts, “professional artists” are then paired with the Guest. Art mediums may vary; photography, ceramics, and more. Working together, and coached by the professional, the community leader creates a work of art. The artists and guest artists are given several months to create a piece, allowing for busy schedules and the convenience of all involved. The pieces created are then auctioned off at the Guest Artist event. Guest Artist is the signature fundraiser for the organization. Proceeds from tickets sales and the live and silent auction benefit DCA programs and services. Arts funding has seen drastic reductions in recent years, and is once again being threatened, so community support is greatly needed. The Guest Artist Teams this year are: Guest Artist  — Professional Artist — Media • Paul Clipper, Dorchester Banner — Dr. Graham Slaughter — Photography • Alan Brock, Crosby and Associates — Paul Winters — Fused glass • Laura Heikes, The Talbot Bank — Windy Karpavage — Fiber Arts • Nancy Snyder, Wednesday Morning Artists — Ann Geiger —  Pottery • Dion Banks, Cambridge International — Lisa Krentel — Mixed Media • Brandon Hesson, Cambridge Main Street — Charles Ross — Mixed Media Tickets will be $65 for DCA members; $75 for non-members, so watch for invitations in the mail. Anyone, who is not a current DCA member, but is interested in receiving an invitation should contact DCA at 410-228-7782. Unique Programs Coming To DCA COLOR SAMPLER CLASS Dorchester Center for the Arts is offering a Color Sampler Class beginning March 4. This class is for those interested in trying visual arts, but are unsure where to begin. The course will include a sampler of color media: oil, pastel, watercolor and colored pencil. All materials are provided, and instructing will be Jackie Pfaff-Pratt. The session will run from March 4 – April 8 on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30. Fees are $85 for DCA members; $115 for non-members. JULIA CHILD AT DCA The Dorchester Drama Guild, a program of the Dorchester Center for the Arts, welcomes award-winning actor and Smithsonian Scholar, Mary Ann Jung and her living history presentation of “Julia Child-Queen of Cuisine.” The show pays tribute to the energy, passion, and sense of playfulness with which Julia approached her greatest loves: her husband and her cooking. The performance highlights her early search to find her life’s calling, and provides fascinating insight into her struggles at Le Cordon Bleu. Also featured will be her efforts to develop and publish “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” and her groundbreaking “French Chef television show. Audience members will be used to portray Julia’s beloved husband Paul, and her co-authors Simca and Louisette. This will be a Gallery Stage performance and tickets are $10 for DCA members, $12 for non-members, and children under 12 are $5 with an adult. DCA announces March Gallery Show DCA is pleased to present in the galleries in March, “Seeing the World Through a Photographer’s Eyes.” The exhibit will feature the works of Frank Deak, Larry C. Reese, Jack Upchurch Jr., and Don Meritt. Also on exhibit will be “Memories in Clay” created by patients in the Art Therapy Program at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center. The class used for these pieces is from 1,000 year old clay from “The Hill” in Easton. The gallery show is sponsored by UpWind Systems LLC, and will run March 5 – 28. An artists’ reception will be held on March 14 from 5 -7:30 p.m. with live entertainment and light refreshments. For more information on these and other DCA programs, call 410-228-7782 or visit dorchesterarts.org. Editor’s note: Spectrum is the weekly column of the Dorchester Arts Center. It is written by Mickey Love, executive director.