Heads swiveled about in anticipation today as the Arts and Business Council announced it was giving its first Lifetime Achievement award to Wayne Thiebaud at the Prelude to the Season Annual Awards Luncheon in the Doubletree Sacramento Hotel.
Alas, a Thiebaud sighting was not in the cards. Muriel Johnson, director of the California Arts Council, picked up the award on behalf of the celebrated American painter and Sacramento icon.
Painter and sculptor Stephen Kaltenbach, however, did take the stage to claim his Artist of the Year award, modestly asking: "Are you sure this isn't a mistake?"
It was a logical question, Kaltenbach said, since he was up against Michael Bayard, owner and artistic director of Rhythm Magic!, and Barbara Crockett, a founding member of the Sacramento Ballet.
In a moment of humility that tickled the audience, Kaltenbach explained that he leans on God for help with his work. He then acknowledged that he knew not everyone in the audience appreciated his work and that they wer probably thinking: "This guy has God's help, and this is all he can do."
Punctuated by heart-felt acceptance speeches and electric performances by local entertainers, Prelude to a Season provided memories to share for a few days in just two hours. Other awards categories recognized partners, patrons, arts organization leaders and volunteers:
Arts Management Excellence (in organizations with budgets up to $250,000): La Raza Galeria Posada.
Arts Management Excellence (in organizations with budgets over $250,000): California Lectures.
Arts Business Partnership: Crocker Art Museum expansion project and the City of Sacramento.
Arts Executive of the Year: Bill Blake, B Street Theatre.
Business Support of the Arts: Commerce Printing, led by Gil Caravantes.
Volunteer of the Year: Laurie Pederson, Capital Film Arts Alliance.
Individual Leadership: Joyce Raley Teel, who has played a crucial role in the Crocker expansion project and in providing capital for a building that will house four of the region's biggest arts groups. Teel's daughter accepted the award on her mother's behalf, saying she knew that if her mother were there, she would thank her own mother, E. Claire Raley, for instilling a love for the arts; her father, Tom Raley, for building a successful enterprise; and Raley's customers whose patronage has allowed her generosity.
Arts Educator of the Year: Michael Neumann, artistic director and premier orchestra director of the Sacramento Youth Symphony.
Although a number of audience members were disappointed they didn't get to see Thiebaud, event organizers were sad they didn't get to see Ed Goldman, a Prelude Committee member who put in a lot of work on the event but was too ill to make an appearance.
Daily posts from Bee writers on movies, theater, media, fashion, music and pop culture.
October 2, 2009
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