The final event for this project was Audra McDonald at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, on October 25, 2014. I finished well ahead of my November 12 deadline and won the bet. Fortunately the blog was not part of the wager - it took another month to complete all the blog posts.
There are many to thank for their encouragement and help along the way. First, Mari Horita and the ArtsFund staff. They provided all kinds of support: looking out for good exhibits, performances and events to catch, helping me learn more about the organizations and art I was seeing, and even joining me at several performances.
Jim Duncan, of course, must be recognized for making the original challenge, for graciously offering a lot of encouragement (and some free tickets!) along the way, and for the dinner we will enjoy this Sunday evening.
The ArtsFund staff, particularly Sarah Sidman, helped make sure nothing was missed. |
Our region provides many wonderful opportunities to enjoy art with everyone in the family, and I want to thank mine. Chris, my lovely wife of 41 years, joined me at the vast majority of performances. I also had fun outings with both daughters and their partners, individually and in groups, attending events that fit their diverse interests. Readers may have also noticed a slight tendency to share a bit about my Grandson. See Children Remind Us.
Finally, the greatest help came from my brother Scott. He painstakingly edited every post, offering a lot of encouragement along the way and not murdering me (although he threatened) for my repeated grammatical errors. Scott will be directing Mary Poppins next March for Theater Arts Guild, a wonderful community theater up in Mount Vernon.
And last but certainly not least, the pitch!
Over the twelve months I experienced just about every kind of art the Puget Sound has to offer - dance, film, theater, music, visual art and more. I learned that the organizations ArtsFund supports are more inventive, challenging and innovative than I ever imagined. These organizations serve thousands of students through outstanding education programs. They have large and diverse audiences, and many are expanding their reach to serve new communities in our region.
These organizations each make their own unique contributions, but they share at least one thing in common: they receive vital operating support from ArtsFund. We need your help to make it happen. Please make a contribution to ArtsFund during our 2016 Campaign. Here is the link: Donate Now!
Mari Horita and Jim Duncan certified completion of the project at the ArtsFund Annual Meeting, held at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. |