by Timothy Rutt
The Altadena Arts Council presented a "Friend of the Arts" award to the Webster family for hosting the "ARTBreak 2011 Community Arts Festival” in June.
The festival almost didn't happen, according to arts council director Mary Ann Stevenson. They were in the process of planning the 2011 ARTBreak when a major sponsor withdrew, putting the event -- which usually takes place at Farnsworth Park -- in danger.
Several days after the bad news, a council member saw a vacant store at the Webster's complex at 2450 N. Lake Ave. and called the owners to see if they'd agree to house the event, which was now conceived as an art exhibition. The Websters agreed, and and the vacant store was transformed into the Temporary Gallery@Websters, including construction of temporary, gleaming white walls for mounting the many works of art of Pasadena Unified School District students. Instead of the two weeks use requested by the Council, they were give full use of the space for an entire month rent-free, including utilities, according to an Arts Council press release.
Pictured: left to right, Juanita DeVaughn, Arts Council board member, Arts Council executive director Mary Ann Stevenson, and Gary Webster, who was honored along with his father, William Webster.
