Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Arts League sets plans

Its shaping up to be a busy year for the Artesian Arts League.

Judy Duke, League president, said information on membership has been sent out, and about half of those who received a card responded and paid their dues. It costs $20 per year to be in the League.

Penny Richards spoke for the events committee, saying the group talked about the Christmas Tour of Homes. The idea, she said, is to tour four or five homes each year, and doing different homes annually.

Janice Hill said Little Rock issues tickets to those who participate in its tour of homes. The tickets are punched at each house so everyone will know how many homes have been visited. In addition, one home will be designated for refreshments.

The homes to be visited will be decorated inside with the homes literally being toured. Hill said the committee discussed having the tours from 4-7 p.m. during the week.

The Leagues Board agreed, and decided to charge $10 per ticket with the Christmas Tour of Homes to be held in December.

Duke said a Mystery Dinner Theater will be held Aug. 13-14. The play will be Revenge of the Gold Fields, a murder mystery set in the middle of the gold rush. The Saturday night performance will include a full meal, while Sundays matinee performance will be dessert only.

There will be no rehearsals for the production as it is a box play. The cast will be given its parts and read from the cards while doing plenty of ad-libbing. Clue will be handed out to audience members to help them figure out whodunnit. Saturdays performance will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the matinee to start at 2 oclock. The audience is encouraged to dress in western wear as well.

Tickets for Saturdays performance will be $15, with the price reduced to $7.50 for Sunday.

Richards ran down the list of events planned for the next several months. A Chocolate Sunday is scheduled for September. This event will feature chocolate desserts and goodies. Those who attend can eat all the chocolate they can stand for one price.

The League will have a Yard Sale in October. This will be done in conjunction with the Third Annual Pumpkin Festival. At this time November is open, while the December event will be the Tour of Homes.

The new year will kick off with an open calendar in January, and the possibility of a Valentine Table Topper in February. Richards said the committee discussed a theme of Candlelight, Romance and You.

We want it to be special, she said. If the League hosts this event, it will include a fancy meal, most likely prime rib in a romantic setting. It is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 11. Some tables will be for a single couple, while other tables will be for four people.

Nothing has been scheduled for March, yet, but a garden tour will be held in April. May is a busy month for everybody and has nothing scheduled for it. For June 2006, though, the League is considering putting on another follies production.

Duke suggested trying to have a decorating workshop in November. The last such workshop went over well, she said.

Richards said the committee also talked about ways the League can make some money. One such idea was to make a calendar showing the different events the League has held. Another was to do note pads with photos of local gardens.

She said the committee discussed the possibility of making a cookbook of favorite recipes. The League will begin work on this in January.

Members of the Nevada County Fair Board approached Duke about the League taking over the arts portion of the annual fair. Members agreed this would be a good idea, but not for this year because of the time constraints. The fair is scheduled for Aug. 27 through Sept. 3. However, this year League members could volunteer to sit in the arts building and handle things.

The room the League uses to store props and costumes has been invaded by mice. The mice, Duke said, have destroyed several costumes. A clean up day will be held Saturday, July 23.

The Leagues next regular meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 9. At this time the members will set up for the dinner theater. Tickets can be purchased from Prescott Flowers or from League members.