Day of the Dead Meets "An Evening With the Arts"

By Leanna Lehman --  The Churchill Arts Council held its 33rd annual fundraising dinner and silent auction Saturday, March 2nd at the Fallon Convention Center honoring Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, bringing a splash of color and culture to the annual event. The CAC has dedicated the last 33 years not only to transforming its current facility into the beautifully restored 105-year-old Oats Park Art Center, but to help make Fallon a cultural gathering place. Through CAC's efforts, the community has been able to enjoy numerous concerts, classic and noir films, literature and poetry readings, and various performing arts events in the 350-seat Barkley Theater. Three galleries showcase artwork from around the world in an impressive variety of artistic mediums.  "Free Concerts in the Park" are brought to the community during the summer season in partnership with the City of Fallon. Fundraising has been a critical component to accomplishing this mission. One of the biggest social events of the year, the annual "Evening with the Arts" gives the entire community a chance to help contribute and participate in the continued growth and success of CAC. Valerie Serpa, CAC Executive Director, and a host of volunteers spent Friday and Saturday decorating and preparing for the event after months of planning. This year’s dinner was catered by the Slanted Porch with guest chef, Ryan Scott (Top Chef: Chicago) and staff serving an over-the-top meal and decadent dessert leaving event-goers impressed. Long-time supporter and volunteer, Cecilia Huff, reported that this year’s event had greater theme participation than has been seen in recent years. Painted faces, traditional Día de los Muertos attire, and colorful Mexican dress lent to the festive affair. Items for auction included a wide array of regional artwork and photography, vacation getaways, specialty cuisine, and other eclectic items donated by local businesses, artists, and community members. Many auction items were theme based as well, with painted sugar skulls, skeletons, and various Día de los Muertos artwork up for bid. Sam Guazzinni, local auctioneer, led an animated crowd through the live auction while bidders vied for their favorite items during the silent auction. According to Serpa, The 2019 Evening with the Arts auction raised over $24,000. To learn more about becoming a member of the CAC, follow this link: Join the CAC Go to the Home Page to read more of The Fallon Post  Read about the Critical Housing shortage in our community