Artist reflects Descanso in rainbow of colors

JOYCE RUDOLPH

Descanso Gardens is captured in a rainbow of colors in Valery

Moorhead’s piece “Descanso Haven,” one in her cache of works

displayed at the Boddy House Gallery, tucked inside the La Canada

Flintridge oasis.

Prior to pressing her brush to the canvas, Moorhead snapped a

photograph of the scene -- a small structure, a bevy of flowers and

mountains stretching majestically across the background.

The oil painting has lots of greens, peaches and violets, the

artist said.

“The whole gardens are gorgeous,” she said. “This spot struck me

because it represented the total beauty of the gardens, so I focused

in on one thing.”

The wife of former area congressman Carlos Moorhead, Valery found

her niche in painting in 1983 when they were living in Washington,

D.C. She joined Washington Artworks, a group of congressional wives

who painted together weekly, led by Pat Mercer Hutchens.

“Hutchens told me first you have to learn the principles of art,

and then you must have a strong desire to want to do this and set

aside time and work very hard at it. It doesn’t come overnight,” she

said.

When her husband retired and they moved back to Glendale, Valery

began painting with a group organized by Margot Lennartz, curator of

the Boddy House Gallery. Members paint together and critique each

other’s work.

A few years ago, Moorhead and several artists in her classes

exhibited at a gala for the YWCA of Glendale, to benefit the domestic

violence and Encore Plus programs. Her painting, “View from a Bridge,

Bassano del Grappa, Italy,” was auctioned off for the benefit.

She enjoys exhibiting so close to home, she said, because it

allows her friends to see her work.

“They have commented on my use of bold colors and the skies I’ve

done,” she said. “When I paint landscapes and nature, I feel I would

like to reflect God’s glorious creation,” she said.

Also exhibiting are Russell Hobbs, showing his pen-and-ink

drawings, and Jean Taylor and Rick Drobner, exhibiting ceramics.

The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and admission is free

with gardens’ admission. This exhibit continues through Oct. 23.

Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. The

gardens are open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Parking is free.

Admission fees are $6 for adults; $4 for seniors and students; $1.50

for children 5 to 12, and free for members and children 4 and

younger. For information call 949-4200.

SPECIAL EVENTS

SPOOKY CARS DISPLAY AT SHOW

The Road’ers Car Club will have its Halloween Cruise In car show

from 6 to 9 tonight at Bob’s Big Boy, 1407 W. Glenoaks Blvd.,

Glendale.

Special prizes will be presented for Best Costume and Best Car in

Costume. All classic, muscle and hot rods are welcome to enter the

show. Those showing vehicles are advised to arrive early.

D.J. Jim will be spinning all the great oldies and eight trophies

will be awarded. There will be raffle and 50/50 prize drawings. For

more information, call Rick Fox at 240-9461.

Joe Nohegl’s 1956 Pontiac wagon won Best of Show last month. The

Best Ford Product 2003 honor went to Ray and Jackie Petri and their

1949 Mercury.

BURROUGHS MUSIC GROUPS SING FOR FUNDS

Choirs of John Burroughs High School will sing while guests enjoy

supper during the “Spaghetti Serenade” from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight at

the First United Methodist Church of Burbank.

Combining recipes for the dinner will be Sal Palilla, owner of

Santoro’s Submarine Sandwiches, and Connie Trimble, whose family

owned Barron’s Restaurant in town for many years.

Tickets are $6, and $3 for children under 5 at the door. Proceeds

go to the choirs’ expenses for traveling to competitions, costumes,

sheet music, accompanists and other costs. The church is at 700 N.

Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank. For more information, call 269-7043.

AUTHORS SIGN BOOKS ON TERROR

A book signing for three authors specializing in terror is

scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Dark Delicacies.

David J. Skal will sign his new trade paperback about the history

of Halloween, “Death Makes a Holiday.” True crime writer Corey

Mitchell will sign his latest investigation book, “Dead & Buried: A

Shocking Account of Rape, Torture, and Murder on the California

Coast.” Completing the trio will be author Glen Hirshberg signing the

critically acclaimed “The Two Sams: Ghost Stories.”

Dark Delicacies is at 4213 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank. For more

information, call 556-6660.

ON STAGE

‘LATE NIGHT CATECHISM’ PRODUCED AT FALCON

“Late Night Catechism” is continuing in an open-ended run at 7:30

p.m. Sundays at The Falcon Theatre in Burbank.

It was written by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. Directed by

Marc Silvia, the interactive comedy features an irrepressible

“Sister” teaching a class of “students” (the audience). Parochial

school was never this funny!

The Falcon is at 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Tickets are $25.

For reservations, call 955-8101.

‘TEN LITTLE INDIANS’ OPENS AT CENTRE THEATRE

Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians” is in its opening weekend

at Glendale Centre Theatre. It is directed by Burbank resident George

Strattan.

It’s a suspenseful tale of murder as, one by one, guests at a

dinner party fall victim, leaving the audience guessing until the

final act. Tickets range from $16 to $20. The play continues through

Nov. 22.

For the children, “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Byron Simpson

continues at 11 a.m. Saturdays through Nov. 15. Tickets are $12 and

$10 for children.

For reservations, call 244-8481. Glendale Centre Theatre is at 324

N. Orange St., Glendale.

REALLY SPONTANEOUS GROUP APPEARING

The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company continues its

improvisational shows at 7 p.m. each Sunday at the Third Stage, 2811

W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by

calling (323) 969-4991.

COLLEGE PRODUCES ‘MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’

William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is being

produced by the Glendale Community College Theatre Arts Department in

the Auditorium Mainstage Theatre.

Professor Ken Gray is the director. One of Shakespeare’s most

popular comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” involves the strange

events that take place in a forest inhabited by fairies, including

the mischievous Puck, whose magic transforms the romantic fate of two

couples.

Shows are at 8 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday and continue at 8 p.m.

Oct. 23, 24 and 25 and 2 p.m. Oct. 26. Tickets are $10, $6 for

students and seniors and $4 each for groups of 10 or more and

children 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased at the door. For

information call 240-1000, ext. 5618.

ART EXHIBITS

PHOTOGRAPHER SHOWS WORKS OF NEW YORK

Los Angeles photographer Rick Penn-Kraus’ exhibit, titled “New

York: B&W; Photos from Before You-Know-When,” continues at the Wax

Poetic salon and art gallery in Burbank.

His photography has appeared on the covers of numerous national

best-selling books.

The exhibit continues through Monday. Wax Poetic is at 3208 W.

Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. For more information, call 843-9469.

ARTISTS GET IT TOGETHER IN EXHIBIT

“Getting It Together,” an exhibit featuring Ruth Banarer, June

Schnitzer and Loraine Veeck, continues through Oct. 28 at the

Creative Art Center Gallery in Burbank.

They are members of Women Painters West and the Collage Artists of

America.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9

a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is

at 1100 W. Clark Ave., Burbank. For more information, call 238-5397.

* If you have press releases for the 48 Hours column, please call

JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or e-mail joyce.rudolph@latimes.com or fax

them to 241-1975.