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Photos and paintings inspire support
CGF's fall fundraiser a success
by Joan Sherlock, CGF Board of Directors

On Sunday, October 2, the sun broke through the fog to shine on CGF's second Nature's Inspirations: Celebrating the Arts. Looking out over the California coastline and the blue Pacific, art aficionados and environmental advocates joined old and new friends of Committee for Green Foothills to enjoy delicious food and magnificent landscape art and photographs by some of the Bay Area's most accomplished artists.

More than 200 guests attended the event and helped raise nearly $70,000 to support CGF's work. Backlit by the Pacific, San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon conducted a lively auction, including works of art donated by the artists.

The event was once again organized in memory of Jane Gallagher, a celebrated painter, passionate defender of Peninsula open space and dedicated Committee for Green Foothills board member. In her honor, CGF presented the Jane Gallagher Award to Los Altos photographer Deane Little, one of eight Bay Area landscape artists and photographers selected to show at the exhibition and sale.

"Winter Oak" by Jane Gallagher Award Winner Deane Little

Deane Little says of his work, "photography has become a key form of environmental advocacy for me, a chance to reveal the natural beauty of the world to others. A great nature photograph is a window on a moment of time and space, an opportunity to inspire viewers to protect such natural places for eternity."

Photography is Little's longtime hobby. Last winter, he moved from film to a digital camera and got hooked on the new technology. As a board member of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, he takes his camera with him wherever he goes, and many of his shots are taken in his favorite preserves — Russian Ridge, Monte Bello, Long Ridge and Windy Hill.

Our jurors, including prominent art professionals, evaluated works from more than 30 artists before selecting the eight for the exhibition. In addition to Little, selected artists included photographers Robert Buelteman of Montara, Barbara Kossy of Moss Beach, and William K. Matthias of Millbrae, and artists Mariellen Baker of Half Moon Bay, Jim Caldwell of Woodside, Mary Kay S. Jolley of El Granada, and Floy Zittin of Cupertino.

Works from all exhibition artists can be viewed on our website at www.GreenFoothills.org/Art. Huge thanks go to our special event committee and the scores of volunteers who helped with the display and sale of the art work, decorations, publicity and all the behind-the-scenes activities contributing to this very successful event.

We send a round of applause to our Nature's Inspirations sponsors, especially Alison Elliot and Steve Blank; Cotchett, Pitre, Simon and McCarthy; Tanya Slesnick and Ted Mitchell; and newspaper sponsor The Mercury News.

The participation of so many artists, guests, volunteers and sponsors reflects the commitment of Bay Area residents to environmental protection. Thank you all!