Art Patrons can Take Home a Roman God
Bacchus is causing a Ruckus as the Signature Piece
in CCC’s Sixth Annual Palette to Palate
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- When 21-year-old Coconino Community College student Jessica Guillory signed up for a ceramics class last semester, her talent for drawing people and her interest in mythology came together in a sculpture that is drawing a lot of attention. This month Guillory’s Bacchus is the signature piece for CCC’s Sixth Annual Palette to Palate, the college’s largest fundraising event that culminates in an evening of art, entertainment and food, 5 – 8 p.m., Friday, April 25 on the Lone Tree Campus.
Bacchus is the Roman god of wine who represents the grape vine and the social aspects of wine. Guillory’s Bacchus is a small Romanesque-style sculpture of the god draped over a wine barrel and indulging in grapes. It took about five weeks for Bacchus to emerge from a block of clay; hours were spent just rolling tiny balls to form grapes.
“I like ceramic artwork because it’s three dimensional. You can touch the different levels of the clay instead of just working on a flat medium,” Guillory said. “It’s meant to be touched.”
“Jessica’s Bacchus is the most fun and inventive work of art a student has created for the Palette to Palate signature image to date. The selection committee loved it,” said CCC Fine Arts Department Chair Alan Petersen. “I think the sculpture really captures the dynamic and exciting nature of the Palette to Palate event.”
Bacchus will be going home with the highest bidder. Other artists who are donating artwork to the evening’s live and silent auctions include Curt Walters, Bruce Aiken, Mark Arnegard, George Averbeck, Joni Pevarnik, Ellen Tibbetts, Alan Petersen, Jerry McGlothlin, Wendy Winchester, Tony Winchester, Don Bendel, Joe Findley, Sondra Francis, Connie Townsend, Elaine Dillingham, Vince Fazio, Diana Hansen and Joella Jean Mahoney.
Local chefs from 12 restaurants will provide hors d’oeuvres and desserts. They include Ai Caramba!, Artisan’s Kitchen, Brix Restaurant and Wine Bar, Cottage Place, Cuvée 928, El Capitan, It’s About Coffee, Jackson’s Grill at the Springs, Josephine’s Restaurant, Main Street Catering, Mountain Oasis, and Pesto Brothers.
The new community orchestra, Orchestra Northern Arizona, will debut as part of the evening’s entertainment. The CCC Jazz Band and the college’s dance company, Encore, will perform, as well.
“Palette to Palate is a super-charged celebration of the arts that brings together good food, wine, art and our community to raise funds for our fine arts students,” said Petersen. “This year, money raised at Palette to Palate will help Encore travel to Italy to participate in an international dance festival in Venice.”
Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for students and CCC employees, and may be purchased from the Executive Office of the Lone Tree Campus or at the door the night of the event. For more information call 928-226-4322 or log on to www.coconino.edu.
Jessica Guillory is studying to be a physical therapist but for now she’s got her hands on clay statues.
Art patrons could take home a Greek god. Palette to Palate’s signature piece, Bacchus, is a clay sculpture of the god of wine that will be up for auction.