Buzz of Activity
Is Inspiring

Last Friday afternoon, I negotiated my way up the steps for the Chandler Center of the Arts, carrying a bouquet and tablecloths for the reception of 10 artists’ offerings for the $20,000 commission contest for a piece of artwork in the new lobby.

Lots of kids were sitting on the stairs, wandering through the lobbies, building sets on the stage, huddled together, talking in the theater, sitting on the gallery kitchen floor with screws and cable and stuff I could only guess at (probably the stage crew), singing somewhere off in the distance one of the beautiful pieces for "The Sound of Music" which opens tonight.

In the lobby where I was waiting my turn to buy tickets, the women taking calls had their free ears plugged so they could hear the callers through the chaos. Charlie McMeekin, venerable director, was sounding forth right near the office in his booming voice, to nobody in particular and everyone in general, his joy with the proceedings.

After all, what could be more energizing than spending two weeks with 100 kids preparing a musical play that miraculously will knock our socks off? We are so lucky that he and the dozens of parents and other citizens working on costuming and sets and music and lighting walk among us.

Meanwhile, in the Gallery, Rebbie Carleton, in charge of organizing and hanging the commission contest, was standing in the middle of the room looking blank. She was surrounded by artists setting up their offerings with more screws and hammers and cable in evidence. Barry Vermont Miller, who is presenting "a hanging set of 432 brass chimes," was totally focused on his project. Chimes were all over the floor and he was oblivious to the commotion around him.

A lovely young woman was sitting on another piece of floor, calmly painting a wooden display box dark brown, while Rebbie came to and started painting another box white. Obviously I couldn’t set up tables for the reception, so I put the bouquet and tablecloths in Rebbie’s capable hands.

Before I left, I simply stood in the middle of the super-charged gallery in the super-charged Center for the Arts and drank it all in. This is what Chandler is about. Happy 100^th birthday.

Bonnie Fallon

Brookfield

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