BREATHING LIFE INTO A LANDMARK TUJUNGA CENTER PROVIDES A HOME FOR ART.Byline: RICK COCA Valley News Writer Tucked away in the lush green Verdugo Hills, the McGroarty Arts Center is both a historical landmark that pays homage to Tujunga's past and a living, breathing facility utilized daily by scores of people. With the help of the Friends of McGroarty Arts Center and the center's leadership, the facility, built in 1923 by the late John Steven McGroarty, should endure for years to come. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the center's literature, McGroarty was a United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. congressman, poet, historian, dramatist and journalist. When the former state poet laureate poet laureate (lô`rēĭt), title conferred in Britain by the monarch on a poet whose duty it is to write commemorative odes and verse. died in 1944, the property was willed to Margaret McHale, McGroarty's niece. In 1953, after much lobbying from community members, organizations and activists, the property was purchased by the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Department of Recreation and Parks. It was deemed a historical landmark in 1970, according to the San Fernando Valley Historical Society The San Fernando Valley Historical Society is a private organization committed to "research, collect and preserve the history, art and culture of the San Fernando Valley". It was founded on July 4, 1943. . Laurelle Geils has been the director of the center since 2002. She said it was privatized in 1995, and funding from the city was reduced significantly. After the city funding dropped off, organizers and the center's friends had to react quickly. At that time, Friends of McGroarty Arts Center, a support group made up of community members and artists, went from being a loosely formed entity that donated small items, such as class supplies, to a serious fundraising group. Friends of McGroarty Arts Center ``had to get more organized, and we had to start looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. grants to make up the difference,'' Geils said. Paying salaries and operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. while providing classes for about 800 students a year means money is an ongoing challenge for the center, she said. Their annual wintertime open house is one of their biggest fundraisers. Popular among attendees is the ``chili bowls'' made by ceramic guild members. ``You eat the chili, keep the bowl,'' Geils said. The center offers about 60 classes in such varied fare as yoga, creative writing, painting, ceramic art This article is about artwork made out of clay. For ceramic materials and uses in general, see Ceramic. Ceramics and ceramic art in the art world means artwork made out of clay bodies and fired into the hardened ceramic form. , piano, theater, photography lessons and Tai Chi Ch'uan tai chi ch'uan: see martial arts. . Geils started taking Tai Chi Ch'uan classes at the center in 1988, studying under the direction of former center co-director Isabella Barone. When Barone retired from teaching about 10 years ago to take over as co-director of the center, it was Geils she picked to take over her Tai Chi Ch'uan class. ``It looks like a dance, but it's deadly,'' Geils said about her love of Tai Chi Ch'uan. ``It's a very slow, rhythmic Chinese exercise.'' That rhythm fits nicely at the McGroarty Arts Center, where artists steadily and consistently breathe life into the former home of a poet laureate long since gone, but never forgotten. The McGroarty Arts Center is at 7570 McGroarty Terrace in Tujunga. For information on classes or donations, call (818) 352-5285, or go to www.mcgroartyartscenter.org. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Taking super close-ups of ordinary objects, such as nails and toy cars, McGroarty Arts Center photography teacher John Free, left of center, wants his young students to learn that a great photograph can come from any source. Rick Coca/Valley News |
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