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Berets, cafes enliven ‘Gertie’s’
(by Barbara Christian - August 21, 2012)
Berets, cafes enliven ‘Gertie’s’
By BARBARA CHRISTIAN
It’s Saturday night and the Valley Art Center has traveled back in time and place to Paris in the 1920s and ‘30s where artists and writers are gathered in the salon of their patron, mentor and confidant, Gertrude B. Stein.
“Party at Gertie’s,” the theme of this year’s VAC benefit, drew a wall-to-wall crowd of art lovers, VAC members and merrymakers.
For one night only, the costumed partygoers relived the heyday of Paris in the era of the “Lost Generation,” rubbing shoulders with the spirits of Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin and Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.
The theme was borrowed from last year’s Academy Award-winning Woody Allen film, “Midnight in Paris,” in which a time-traveling American writer finds himself among the Left Bank’s colorful community of expatriates.
And the VAC “Party at Gertie’s” committee saw to it that the atmosphere of the evening honored the time and place.
It began with Gertrude Stein’s art-filled salon, which took over one classroom. It was filled with art, an Oriental rug and Ms. Stein’s famous chair-and-half “throne.” The “salon” also served as silent auction headquarters.
Folding doors from the salon opened onto the main Margaret Bowen Gallery, transformed into Rue de Fleurus marketplace and sidewalk café complete with bistro tables and chairs. Surrounding the café were such attractions as a Paris Pastry shop (Chagrin Falls’ soon-to-open Sugar Me Desserterie) and a bourbon tasting bar courtesy of the Brown-Forman Corp. Across from sidewalk café from the bourbon bar was a busy refreshments stand featuring other-than-bourbon drinks.
Outside the center’s lower level pottery studio was the Parisian-style “smoking tent” with emphasis on cigars and courtesy of Chagrin Cigar.
Dance music of the era played throughout the evening and was provided by Tom Higgs.
But it was the partygoers that completed the scene. Chanteuse Mary Ann Breisch, in flapper regalia, puffed on her long cigarette holder (sans real cigarette) and sang music from the ‘20s and ‘30s accompanied by Tom “Cole Porter” Scot.
Strolling past the scene was VAC board member Kirk Gebler as his half-shaved alter ego Ernest Hemingway.
VAC artist Rob Crombie was there too before his easel, beret on head and painting a Parisian scene.
With her blonde wavy bob, Hannah Jordan in a long, long chiffon sheath was a vision of Zelda Fitzgerald. How did she get her hair to do “that?” Ms. Jordan confided she is a hair stylist at Chagrin Falls’ Ignite hair salon.
Almost everyone at the party made an attempt to pay homage to Paris in the ‘20s and ‘30s in one way or another. They wore party clothes but with berets, boas and shawls.
Dinner served buffet style in the center’s main classroom was also Franco-centric. Catered by Trifle’s of Bainbridge, the choices included poached salmon with capers, mushrooms on French baguette slivers, baguette finger sandwiches and selection of fresh fruit among other edibles.
If there was one disappointment Saturday evening it was Gertie herself. Not one partygoer attempted to recapture her legendary presence so Gertrude Stein was a no-show. That’s OK, one partygoer agreed: Gertie should remain the enigma she always has been.
Party planners included committee chairs Judith Albert, John Bartok, VAC director Ann Chancy, Brit Gardiner, Kirk Gobbler, Kyle Ulrey and Kathy Vencl. Committee members were Ben Chancy, Darlene Nelson, Mary Ann Ponce, Nancy Rogoff and Madeline Sivak.
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