A Chance to Check Out the Landscape
Dressed for royalty, flamboyant Zandra Rhodes turned heads at a Costa Mesa party.
“I wore this outfit, without the feathers, to a garden party at Buckingham Palace once,” the British fashion designer said during the preview reception for the Crystal Court Spring Garden Show.
“I didn’t meet the queen,” she deadpanned. “But since I’m the guest of honor tonight, I thought I should dress up.”
With all the flair of the Chelsea Garden Show, the weekend flower event at Crystal Court had something for everyone: a benefit for Designing Women (a support group of the Art Institute of Southern California in Laguna Beach), a landscape competition for college students and the chance to meet Rhodes--designer to royalty and celebrity.
No sooner had she entered the Friday reception than Rhodes made her way to an exhibit created by a seven-woman design team from UC Irvine’s School of Landscape Architecture.
On a marble floor, the students had created a seaside cottage garden, complete with sand dunes, flowering plants and love seat.
“How lovely,” said Rhodes, eyeing the setting. “I live in Solana Beach now, some of the time.”
And then, turning to first-year student Nicole Carlier of Newport Beach, she asked: “Are you sure these plants will survive the salty Pacific? I have great trouble finding the right plants for my terrace.”
Carlier assured Rhodes they would. “Our team got inspiration from the plants growing on natural sand mounds on the Newport peninsula,” she said. “You want plants that can handle the conditions, that don’t need too many nutrients.”
UCI’s design team won the competition the last two years.
“We’re hoping the third time is the charm,” said third-year student, Debra Hernandez. (UCI and UCLA--whose team created a mission garden in bloom--tied for first place.)
Among guests was Anton Segerstrom, general manager of Crystal Court. “This is a wonderful chance for the students to get hands-on experience,” he said.
Also attending was Christine Rhoades of Laguna Beach, who chaired the benefit reception for Designing Women. “It’s wonderful to be able to support this jewel of an art school,” she said. “It’s one of the best-kept secrets in Orange County.”
*
Creative kids: Lana Clay was one of seven Orange County children--all cancer survivors--who received a $1,000 award for her artwork Friday at a benefit for the Kids Cancer Connection at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach.
Along with Andi Drayer, Michelle DeNicola, Nikki Norton, Megan Hickey, Daniel Herberts and Joel Shivley, Clay was a winner of an art competition sponsored last December by the Kids Cancer Connection.
The children’s work will be displayed on holiday greeting cards. Proceeds from card sales will benefit the organization’s outreach programs for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
“This feels pretty good,” said Clay, 8, during the $150 per person black-tie gala.
When Clay was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3, her family was devastated, said her mother, Linda Clay of Fullerton.
Not only was her life on the line, Lana had to face chemotherapy treatments. “Everybody was so anxious, fearful,” Linda Clay said.
Enter the Kids Cancer Connection. When Lana began her course of chemotherapy, a representative from the organization introduced her to an art program designed for pediatric cancer patients.
“While she received chemotherapy,” Linda Clay explained, “they gave Lana art materials, so she could paint and draw. It distracted her, made it a lot easier.”
Children who have enjoyed the program are then invited to participate in an annual “Artday” at the Newport Harbor Art Museum. There, they create the works that may appear on the holiday cards.
“I painted Christmas bulbs attached to different color strings,” said Lana, whose cancer has been in remission for more than four years.
Said Howard Clay, Lana’s father: “It is hard to put into words. But the art has helped, and so have all of the wonderful people we’ve met through this program.”
*
Buzz at South Coast Rep: Before the West Coast premiere of Richard Nelson’s “New England” got underway at South Coast Repertory on Friday night, theater buffs mingled in the courtyard.
The hot topic: the appearance by cabaret singer Andrea Marcovicci at the theater’s “Summer Spotlight” benefit July 13. (Last year, the spotlight was on actor James Whitmore, who did his famous interpretation of Will Rogers on Main Stage.)
Co-chairs of the event are Barbara Glabman of Newport Beach, Gordon Wiles of Irvine (he directed TV’s memorable “Laugh In” comedy hour) and Jon Madison of Laguna Beach.
Said Madison: “It’s going to be a great night, with an outdoor reception and then Marcovicci on stage singing love songs.” For information, call (714) 957-2602.
*
A rare reception: Invitations are being designed for one of the most unusual wedding receptions ever to hit the arts society circuit.
Not only will adults be invited to the June 2 afternoon reception planned by Orange County Performing Arts Center Chairman Mark Johnson and Barbara Hiller, children will be on the guest list. And they will have their own buffet and play area, said Hiller, owner of Upper Crust Catering.
“We’ll have hot dogs, pizza and burgers for them,” said Hiller, 33, who marries Johnson, 49, later this month at the Sherman House in San Francisco. “And they will have their own entertainment and loads of space to have a good time.”
The space? A huge Anaheim Hills property that Johnson has had landscaped. “It’s a kind of private park,” Johnson said.
Hiller’s children, Cameron, 5, and Jason, 9, call it “Mark’s park.”
“I just feel it’s about time people started thinking more about family,” Hiller said. “I love family gatherings far more than formal ones. But then, everything has its place.”
