ART STUDENT TURNS BRIGHT IDEA INTO FUND-RAISER'S CENTERPIECE.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Hart High School graduate Tabitha Heidkamp has designed sets for school plays and created scarecrows for the annual Lombardi Ranch contest.

Now the aspiring artist is using her talents for a much more noble purpose: the American Cancer Society's Candlelight Walk.

The 17-year-old Valencia resident has created a wood-and-cardboard sculpture of candles that will be the centerpiece of Sunday's walk, the first in the Santa Clarita Valley.

``Not only does it honor those who have been lost, but it's giving people hope for the future,'' said event Chairman Arnold Mann. ``That's really what the message is about.''

In January, the society opened its first Santa Clarita office with two staff people, offering health fairs, educational programs, rehabilitation services and support groups. Up to 200 people are expected to attend the candlelight walk, called the Celebration of Life.

During the walk, participants will place luminaria in front of the sculpture, featuring a row of seven candles, ranging in height from 1-1/2 feet to 3-1/2 feet. The candles rise in a V-shape from two wooden platforms, measuring 3 feet by 5 feet and 2 feet by 4 feet. A stage light will add dramatic effect.

``It's going to have quite a look to it,'' Mann said.

Heidkamp, an art major at Pasadena City College, said her project represents unity and strength, the traits needed to successfully battle cancer.

``These candles all depend on each other. If one isn't in place they all fall down,'' she said. ``It's like people needing each other. You always have someone you can rely on.''

Mann said the centerpiece is exactly what he was looking for.

``I knew it had to be focus of attention,'' he said. ``Several religions use candles to signify celebration or devotion. It lent itself to the atmosphere.''

Using sketches by Mann, Heidkamp created the sculpture from wood, heavy-duty cardboard tubes, glitter, white wall texture and oil and acrylic paints.

``It was pretty challenging,'' said Heidkamp, who worked on the project for a month with her father, Gary. ``It's harder to build something rather than just draw it out. If you draw it out, it doesn't have to hold weight and you don't have to worry about it falling apart in the rain.''

Mann chose the young woman to design the project and its logo, a candle whose smoke forms the walk's title phrase, after learning about her artistic skills from neighbors. Heidkamp said the project brought home the severity of the illness, estimated to strike 1.3 million Americans by the end of this year.

``It made me think a lot,'' Heidkamp said. ``I never really had someone real close to me with cancer.''

She hopes to use the project as a launch for other artistic endeavors. After graduation, she plans to attend the Pasadena Art Center of Design where she will study illustration or costume design.

``I love medieval things and people in costumes,'' said Heidkamp, who has been taking art lessons since she was eight years old. She graduated in June from Hart High School.

Beside taking art class, she works part time as an instructor at Artworks Studio in Newhall. It was there she learned the basic principles of tone, color and composition.

``I love being able to capture something using your imagination,'' she said.

The walk will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Summit Park in Valencia behind the YMCA. For information, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: (color) Tabitha Heidkamp, 17, designed her creation as a symbol of inspiration for the American Cancer Society's Candlelight Walk.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News