UP FRONT Short Takes
What is the sweetest thing you have done for your Valentine? “I presented our house on Valentine’s Day to my wife. It was a surprise.” — Carlos Gasca
“I bought ComicCon tickets and took my boyfriend to the event.” — Jina Fong
“I pampered my awesome, hot husband and prepared a nice candlelight dinner for him. Ooo la la.”
“It begins with 11 years of marriage, and I am still in love with the man I married.” — Alexandra Bayaca
“I put signs on my husband’s work fence that said I loved him with all my heart. Then I filled his office with two dozen roses.” — Suzanne Garcia “Dinner, roses and a bear.” — Jerry Ralls
— Melissa Peralta “I made a photo album with pictures of us together, our family and friends, and our son.” — Stephanie Torres
“A cabin at Big Bear.” — Hugo Padilla
“The sweetest thing I’ve done on Valentine’s Day was cook a nice dinner and put together a basket of love filled with lots of fun goodies.” — Alex Gilman “I took him golfing at the Spyglass (Hill) Golf Course in Monterey.” — Connie Taylor
“The sweetest thing is that we’ve been together for six years.” — Lianne Snyder, referring to her sweetheart, Michael Riban
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Bakersfield Life
February 2011
Bakersfield Art Association The Bakersfield Art Association is having its second annual Mardi Gras Gala fundraiser on March 4 at the Petroleum Club to provide scholarships for students from kindergarten through college seeking to realize their artistic potential. The nonprofit organization has dedicated itself to enriching and empowering Kern County artists since 1944. The group offers members the opportunity to learn and share the excitement of art and the creative process to local youth and adults. The group is also known for building one of the most enduring art treasures in Bakersfield, as the association began fundraising and built the Cunningham Memorial Art Gallery in Bakersfield’s Central Park in 1956. Today, that gallery is known as the Bakersfield Museum of Art, formed by some of the group’s original members, who preferred to expand into the art world outside of Bakersfield. The association has quite a vibrant past. In 1944, the first organizational meeting was held and the Bakersfield Art Association was established. Current member Beverly Carrick was at that original meeting with her mother as a teenager. “I remember Daisy Urner and (Iva Cross Fendrick’s mother) Vina Cross were there,” Carrick said. “Everyone was so excited!” The association’s first “home” was the family home of Ben Bolt Jr., who recorded the early history of the group. The Bolts sponsored exhibits in their home where budding artist Harry C. Smith taught. Members who wanted to work with and exhibit local artists, assist students in area schools and offer classes to Kern County residents continued as the Bakersfield Art Association. After operating from East Hills Mall for 15 years, the association moved to its 1817 Eye St. location in March 2010. Known as The Art Center, it continues to offer its programs and activities. — By Caroline Reid