Annual fundraiser relocates to TASI after Imelda damages Botanical Gardens
“The Moon and Stars” will present “Hot Tropics Night,” 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., March 21, at The Art Studio, Inc., 720 Franklin in downtown Beaumont.
The annual fundraiser, which features a silent auction of artwork, will benefit the Tyrrell Park Botanical Gardens, especially the annual Maypole Festival. Tickets are $20 which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
“The Hot Tropics is what I like to call an art collector’s auction,” Sandra Hammerling, event coordinator, said. “Artists donate pieces that will be priced lower than they would normally be to really contribute to the cause.
“Collectors will be able to get an artist’s piece for half what they would normally pay if they were buying it outright from the artists. And then you have the artists that don’t really sell their pieces to anybody, so there will be a lot of real collectibles.”
Artists already committed to donate include Gina Garcia, Ines Alvidres, Elizabeth Nesmith, Mark Nesmith, Letitia Rogers, Rodney Bushnell, Andy Coughlan, Greg Busceme Sr., Sheila Busceme, Sheri Hood Callahan and Annie Green, with more to come.
Entertainment will be provided by Greg Jr., and Giglio’s has donated the alcohol.
“Hot Tropics Night” is traditionally held in the gardens’ Warren Loose Conservatory, but the building is awaiting renovation after flood damage during Tropical Storm Imelda in September.
“The city is going to repair it, but we are in line, and the police stations and the fire stations come first, understandably and rightly so,” Hammerling said. “So we are in line. They did act quick in removing the wet stuff so there was no further mold and no further damage.
“(The Moon and Stars Committee) donates the money to the Beaumont Botanical Gardens, into their general fund to buy plants, to buy potting, to pay employees, to pay for insurance — all the expenses that just goes into the general fund.”
Fortunately, Hammerling said The Studio offered space for the event.
Hammerling said the original idea of the Maypole Festival, held each May, was to promote use of the park.
“Back when we started this, the stables were not open,” she said. “There was no Cattail Marsh, none of that, and I wanted to bring Tyrrell Park back because I always went there as a kid. My dad played golf there. We had Bluebirds and Girl Scouts. It’s the largest park in Beaumont.
“I just hated to see it going to waste, and I knew that these buildings and this conservatory, and all this stuff was out there. And I thought, it’s just a hidden secret, and we just need to get people out here — and wanting to honor Torchy at the same time.”
Torchy is Paula Salter, who was a long-time fixture in the Southeast Texas arts community. The Maypole at Tyrrell Park was constructed in her honor.
“Torchy just was all over the community,” Hammerling said. “She helped everybody, every nonprofit, everything. She just had this feel good spirit about her that when she walked in the room, everybody felt good. And that’s love that you’re passing on.”
To reserve a booth at the Maypole Festival, email torchymoonandstars @yahoo.com, or visit the Beaumont Maypole Festival Facebook page.
Story by Andy Coughlan, ISSUE editor