Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
|
| Local artist Addie Zamarippa proudly displays her art piece which she is selling for the benefit of the Clark Hotel Historical Museum at next week’s Building Bridges Art Show. She hopes art will inspire others to “build bridges” between art and history. |
- Can you guess what local artist Addie Zamarippa, the Building Bridges Art Show and the Clark Hotel Historical Museum have in common? If you can’t, let me provide some clues for you.
Addie Zamarippa is a local artist, who is also an accomplished pianist, who once taught music in our local school system. Why, I remember when she accompanied my girls for solo and ensemble contests.
Addie still plays the piano, and very well I might add, but now her days are also filled with her love of history, especially art history, and her new found love, art.
Addie showed me “Masterpieces of Art,” a book dedicated to the old masters of art. She told me, “I get a lot of my inspiration from this book and these masters.”
“One of the in vogue artists today is Duchamp,” she noted. And, “some of my art is inspired by Matisse,” she added.
In fact, she noted, “I never get my fill of reading and studying about all aspects of art.” She has been dabbling in art for a little over 2 years and has some 60+ pieces of art of display in various gallleries.
She will have about 17 of her works of art in the local “Building Bridges Art Show” which kicks off here next Wednesday. Her art work is almost all “pencil art” and she can do things with a pencil and canvas that your mind cannot even imagine.
But as much as she loves art, Addie also loves history. And that brings us to the Clark Hotel Historical Museum. Addie said, “I like to think that I’m builidng bridges between my art and history and culture.” She went on to add, “Id like to think that my art work adds to one’s desire to know more about our history as a people and our cultural differences.”
The Clark Hotel Historical Museum comes in here because “it tells the story through exhibits, photographs, writings, and artifacts of who we were and who we are,” noted Zamarippa.
As a result of these loves, Zamarippa said, “I’ve decided to do something for the Art Show and for the Museum. I’ve done a particular piece of art which will be on display at the Building Brides Art Show, and I’ve listed it for $200.”
She went on to say, “If that piece sells during the Art Show, I’ll donate the proceeds to the Clark Hotel Histroical Museum as a way to do something tangible for the Museum.”
And that piece of art work has a companion piece of art work which will be available. Both can be viewed with music playing to get a real feel for Zamarippa’s art.
Zamarippa hopes to someday have her art work on display at some of the bigger art galleries around the state, but for now her art will be on display at Van Horn’s “Building Bridges Art Show.” And, she added, “I always wanted to have some art work on display in a Museum and now I will have some art on display in the Clark Hotel Historical Museum, fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine.”
If you would like to help the Clark Hotel Historical Museum, as Addie is, by making a tax-deductible gift, large or small, please send your check to the Culberson County Historical Museum Association, P.O. Box 231, Van Horn, Texas 79855-0231.
And, if you’d like to consider a larger, more lasting trust gift, please call Robert Stuckey, Museum Curator, today at (432) 283-8028. He’ll direct you to one of our directors that handles these types of gifts.
And, when you view Addie Zamarippa’s art work next week, remember that she’s building bridges and so can you!
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
In last week's paper, we published a "Plea" letter written by John Clough urging folks to consider financial support for a Van Horn High School Scholarship. We goofed, however, and did not put John's address. Here is his address: John Clough, 12726 Shady Knoll, Cypress, Texas 77429.
* * * * * *
Do you recognize any of these names – Gene Dow, Dee Mendias, Bud Harris, Troy Greaves, Bill Clark, Herb Smith, Jack Watts, Don Stephens, James Sammons, Don Heath? These were the new officers of the Chamber of Commerce for the year 1960. This organization was very active then. However, Van Horn has changed so much since that time. All of these men, with the exception of Herb Smith, who was the Superintendent of Schools, owned a businesses in Van Horn. However, our town has changed so much since that time. One difference is that there were many locally owned retail stores, car dealerships, grocery stores, furniture stores, insurance agencies – you name it and it was probably here. As I have said before, I look through the pages of the Advocate back in the 50s and 60s and see all the advertisements for local businesses and wish it could be like that again. The Advocate had to be a money-maker back then!
Another difference back then was the fact that these business men and women were very involved in running for political offices and being in clubs and organizations that worked to foster growth and prosperity for the town. The downward trend, both economically and in attitude, which followed in the 80s and 90s, certainly was non-existent then.
Yes, Van Horn has changed much since the 60s as far as the business climate. But a new group of young, energetic citizens are now involved in the Chamber and I appreciate their desire to pick it up and run with it.
* * * * * * * *
Another huge issue was going on in the early months of 1960. A petition was being circulated for a bond election for a hospital to be built. It must have been a dividing issue in the community, judging by the letters, editorials and full-page ads both for and against that were in the Advocate for weeks. The election was held March 5, 1960 for a $160,000 bond issue , as well as a 30-cent tax fund to pay for the bonds. The other half of the $300,000 projected cost for the hospital would be a federal grant from the Hill-Burton fund.
Well, 650 of an estimated 750 eligible voters (taxpayers) turned out and defeated the proposition by a 376-266 vote. It would be several more years before those civic-minded citizens would try again and succeed in getting a hospital here.
And aren’t we glad they did. Even though it has been through hard times, times that again divided the citizens of the town, we have a great small hospital now. And have you driven by there recently? The $5 million renovation project is coming along and is scheduled for Open House during the Jubilee 2010 in June.
* * * * * * * *
Everyday it seems something new comes out of Washington D.C. which really scares me about our President and his administration. Today it was this – President Obama’s advisors plan to remove terms such as ‘Islamic Radicalism’, ‘Jihad’, etc. from a document outlining national security strategy and will use the new version to emphasize that the U.S. does not view Muslim nations through the lens of terrorism. Yesterday it was the reducing and weakening of our nuclear defense capabilities. And almost weekly he is nationalizing some area of our economy and pushing us yet closer toward Socialism. Now he is softening our minds to the idea of a VAT Tax. How else will we pay for this mess we are in?
Yes, this country ‘it’s a changing’. If you are one who normally doesn’t pay much attention to the workings of our government or politics, perhaps it’s time that you did. I believe that is exactly what they are hoping most people will do – until after it is too late.
* * * * * * * *
Thought for the Week.. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. (Hint, hint – its Clean Up Van Horn time!)
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
April 8th - The Van Horn Eagle track teams will compete in the District Track Meet in Iraan today. Directors of the Culberson County Historical Museum Association will meet this evening at the Clark Hotel Historical Museum at 6 p.m.
April 9th - The Van Horn Lady Eagle softball team is scheduled to play Pecos here today beginning at 5 p.m. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team is slated to play the Marfa Shorthorns in a district contest here this evening at 5 p.m.
April 10th - Clean-up Van Horn Day.
April 11th - Attend the church of your choice today.
April 12th - Culberson County Commissioners are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team is slated to play Ft. Davis in a district contest today in Ft. Davis starting at 5 p.m. Members of the Van Horn Lions Club are scheduled to meet this evening at Mija’s Restaurant at 7 p.m.
April 13th - The Van Horn Rotary Club will meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Lady Eagle softball team is slated to play McCamey, in McCamey, beginning at 5 p.m. The Van Horn Eagle JV baseball team is slated to play Ft. Stockton, in Ft. Stockton, today beginning at 5 p.m.
April 14th - The Building Bridges Art Show opens today at the Van Horn Convention Center.