Longtime friend and supporter Gae Rusk of Banning knocked on Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s door. She was carrying a surprise.
A gift!
This.
This watercolor painting, “Tribal Hat,” is by the late Robert Hiram Meltzer (1921-1987), a renowned artist who lived in Cherry Valley, California.
His wife, Betty Meltzer, a longtime supporter of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, an author, retired teacher, librarian, and community volunteer, recently donated his many paintings to the nonprofit Friends of Banning Library, to help support the volunteer Friends’ library and literacy programs.
We thank the Friends of Banning Library for this beautiful gift! Robert Meltzer, one of the few Riverside County signature artists of the American Watercolor Society, painted numerous landscapes, among them some scenes in San Gorgonio Pass and on different reservations. The Friends are sorting and cataloging the huge collection of paintings and sketches for a future art show. We’ll keep you posted.
Meanwhile, this painting, “Tribal hat.” Does it remind you of anyone?
Hints:
A portrait of Ernest Siva by artist Chuck McCracken recently on display at the Banning, CA, Art Gallery.
Ernest and June Siva and Yolanda Flanagan, mother of the late artist David Flanagan, with a portrait of Ernest Siva calling in dragonflies by playing the “Dragonfly Song” on his flute. This traditional Native American lullaby (learn to sing it here), really does call in the dragonflies if you have an open heart and peaceful, kind spirit.
This painting was on display last year in an exhibit of the Sivas’ collection at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art at California State University, San Bernardino. (Pat Murkland Photo)
The latest … A bigger-than-life likeness of Ernest Siva by artist Gloria Bell of Banning, with Ernest Siva. This was featured at the recent Avellaka Inter-Tribal Sexual Assault Awareness Walk at Morongo Reservation, and will be on display at the Dragonfly Gala.
Gae Rusk, president of Friends of Banning Library, said the “Tribal Hat” painting reminded the group members of someone. Someone being honored at our upcoming Dragonfly Gala. Someone who often wears hats.
Ernest Siva reading in Serrano from his aunt Dorothy Ramon’s cultural memoir, Wayta’ Yawa’: Always Believe. (Carlos Puma Photo)
Yes, we thought so, too.
The theme of the Dragonfly Gala, besides it being our 20th anniversary, is DRAGONFLIES and HATS. We invite all to wear hats and dragonfly themes on Aug. 12, 2023, to the Morongo Community Center on Morongo Reservation. Watch for your invitation in the (snail) mail soon. Meanwhile, here’s the info, because you’ll want to secure your seat or table:
TABLES: $1,000, $2,000, $3,000; SPONSORSHIPS ALSO AVAILABLE.
Individual tickets, $60. PLEASE RSVP HERE.
Your RSVP helps us make sure we can serve everyone! SEATING IS LIMITED.
We’re looking forward to our delicious meal with BBQ and traditional foods prepared by Willie Pink; displays and cultural exhibits with Mother Earth Clan, Morongo Cultural Department, San Manuel Education Department, and more; traditional bird-singing and dancing; and our epic silent auction. Please join us! And don’t forget your hat. And your dragonflies.
Also a reminder, this starts tomorrow, July 8, 2023!
Computer woes made our newsletter a little late this week. We thank you for reading, sharing, and subscribing. News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center is always FREE. We love to hear from you. PLEASE EMAIL. Thanks as always from Center leaders Ernest and June Siva and Editor Pat Murkland. July 7, 2023.