On the Town: Rotary’s Festival of Arts raises money for good cause

Glendale Sunrise Rotary members recently held their Festival of Arts and took advantage of foot traffic at the Maryland Paseo in downtown Glendale.

Rotarians Anita Wallace and Phil Kubel hosted the event. Available from vendors were paintings, ceramics, photos and crafts. Toni Dodd & the Southbound Blues, the Caesura Youth Orchestra and the Rotary Arts Festival Band provided live music.

Early Glendale shoppers were Denise Miller, Steve Ropfogel and Sharon Townsend.

Isabela Riedel from Sylmar tried on an abalone necklace made by Glendale resident Art Agekian.

A favorite booth featured watercolors by Burbank artist Barbara Thorn-Otto. Now an artist full-time, Thorn-Otto was a seven-year member of the Brand Associates of the Brand Library and Art Center. Proud husband, Peter Otto, negotiated her sales at the festival.

Oil paintings by showbiz entrepreneur and Glendale resident Velvet Rhodes were also popular with fest-goers.

Proceeds from the festival will help support art programs in Glendale schools.

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Although the holidays are now a memory, you may still find a snowman character or two — carrot nose, top hat and all — at the Americana at Brand. One chubby snowman attracted plenty of kids. Six-year-old David Mirzaian posed with Frosty, way taller than he was.

Dad Edo Mirzaian and mom Angie, from Glendale, were happy their son had a little distraction from parental shopping.

RUTH SOWBY RANDS may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.