MARCH MADNESS!

Okay, this post isn't about basketball.  BUT, it is about how crazy the Gallery has been the past few months!  New artists, events, fundraisers, you name it--we do it!  Gallery Director (and wonderful ceramics artist) Joyce Brown wears more hats than a hat-rack.  Did you know that besides running the Gallery, advocating for the town and promoting Lake Worth events, she also hosts a twice weekly radio show in Lake Worth?  Tuesdays and Thursdays tune in to WPBR 1340AM for Joyce's show, from 12:00 to 1:00.  She interviews local artists and businesses while keeping you updated on the many wonderful events going on in Downtown Lake Worth.  It's a fun, loose hour with a "down home" feel.

Next, this Saturday (March 24th), we host one of our favorite fundraising arts/food event.  Do you love handmade pottery?  Do you love free, delicious food?  Then the Empty Bowls for Haiti fundraiser is FOR YOU!  The idea is simple--local artists create handmade ceramic bowls and vessels they then bring to CGMS Gallery.  You come and buy an event ticket ($25.00 in advance, 4 for $80, or $35 on the day of the event).  On Saturday the 24th, come to the Gallery to pick out a bowl you get to keep, AND fill with amazing foods offered by local Lake Worth restaurants!  Stroll the Avenue, pig out, and support the children of Jacmel, Haiti through the Arts Creation Foundation for Children.  100% of ticket sales will be donated to this great organization.  Talk about a win-win!  Every year this event gets better and better.  A great way to spend an afternoon...bring all your friends!!!  Get your tickets now, and come early on Saturday, as the bowls go FAST.  Oh, and BRING YOUR APPETITE!

Next on the horizon is another super-fun, hilarious event.  Our second annual PEEPS Art Show will be held on April 20th.  I won't give away too much here, you'll have to wait for more details, but I can say the Gallery will be covered in sticky, marshmallow art that will make you laugh, and give you cavities.  Stay tuned....

Empty Bowls Raise Big Bucks!

On Saturday, April 9, the streets of Lake Worth swarmed with 200 hungry donors, all participants in this year’s Haitian Empty Bowl Fundraiser. The funds raised were for the Art Creation Foundation for Children in Jacmel Haiti. On Monday, April 18, at a check signing ceremony at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery of Downtown Lake Worth, a check for $3200 was turned over to Judy Hoffman, representative of the foundation. Also present at the ceremony were Mayor Rene Varela, Gail Pasternack, and Joyce Brown who presented the check to the foundation. Photographer Durga Garcia recorded the event.

On April 9, over 200 visitors stopped into the Clay Glass Metal Stone, picked up hand made bowls donated by dozens of Palm Beach County artists, and began a feeding frenzy throughout the downtown Lake Worth restaurant district. Visitors began lining up for their bowls at 8:00 AM. The event began at 10AM. Favorite bowls of all shapes and sizes were chosen. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM hundreds of folks criss-crossed the streets over-stuffing themselves with some of the most delicious foods Palm Beach County has to offer. The three participating Pizza restaurants, Rotelli’s, Downtown Pizza and My Spot Pizza on Federal Highway evoked mass discussion on which was the best Pizza in town. La Bonne Bouche served large portions of potent Rum Cake while next door the Cottage set up a buffet with a variety of salads and pasta. Over on Lake Avenue folks zigzagged down the corridor from Fionentio’s to Dave’s Last Resort to Brogue’s Irish Bar feasting on spicy sausage and pasta dishes, corn and shrimp chowder and Italian specialties. After a break to allow the food to settle they progressed on to Dolce Vita where wine samplings and chocolate were the order of the day and the Rum Shack for a pasta offering. On to the Java Juice Bar and Nature’s Way Café for smoothies. Heading East they stopped at Paws on the Avenue to pick up treats for their cats and dogs. Kilwin’s offered delicious ice cream and chocolate treats, Too Jays, cookies and Rita’s, Italian Ice, a refreshing cold treat on a hot day. Across the street in the Cultural Plaza the Taco Lady filled the bowls with a variety of Tex-Mex goodies.

Potters and Clay artists throughout Palm Beach County contributed over 300 bowls to the event. Gail Pasternack topped the list creating over sixty bowls. In addition, thirty of her closest friends participated in the event. Tracy Rosof-Petersen and John McCoy made thirty bowls each for the fundraiser and members of the Palm Beach Ceramic League collectively brought in over fifty.

Representing the city of Lake Worth, Mayor Rene Varela joined the celebration as the funds raised were turned over to Judy Hoffman, representative of the Art Creation Foundation for the children of Jacmel Haiti. The children range in age from six to sixteen years and are the subject of a Nick News documentary with Linda Ellerbee, "Haiti Rising? Life in the Ruins. What's it like to be a kid in Haiti, a year after a devastating earthquake? ” The children are learning to become self-sustaining and to live cooperatively within their community through their participation in the creation of art.

Better Be HUNGRY!!!

This Saturday, April 9th, will be the second annual Empty Bowl Fundraiser for Haiti! Come to the Gallery and purchase hand-made bowls, then wander Lake Worth sampling delicious foods offered by participating restaurants. This year's event promises to be even more delicious than last year! All the bowls are created by local artits and donated to the Gallery. The bowls are $25.00 each if purchased before April 9, $30.00 each the day of the event. All sales proceeds will be benefit the children of Jacmel, Haiti through the Art Creation Foundation for Children.

This year's restaurants include: Rita's Italian Ice; TooJay's Gourmet Deli; Havana Hideout; Kilwin's Chocolates; La Bonne Bouche; The Cottage; Nature's Way Cafe'; Paws on the Avenue (pet treats); The Taco Lady; Java Juice Bar; Lake Worth Rum Shack; Downtown Pizza; La Doce Vita; The Pelican; Brougues on the Avenue; Dave's Last Resort and Raw Bar; Rotelli's Pizza; and Fiorentina.

You don't want to miss this delicious event! Get your bowls this week to save $10.00, then pick them up Saturday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. You'd better come early, the bowls are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. See you Saturday and get HUNGRY!!