Page 30 - Southern Exposure - March '25

Page 30, Southern Exposure

art happeNiNgs

Benzaiten Center For Creative Arts

Do Not Miss The Most Fun Gala In Town!

Each year the Benzaiten had to check it out. Once in the center, watching people doing
Center for Creative Arts holds the extraordinarily hard work of blowing glass into beautiful
a gala to help raise money creations, he was hooked. Determined to accumulate the
for their many “kids and necessary money to take the six-week beginner’s course,
scholarship” programs. It is he saved up enough to cover half the tuition and paid the
considered the most fun and other half with his tax return’s dividend check. This was a
least expensive gala in town. determined young man. He began volunteering when he
So, if you’ve never attended, could and the Benzaiten’s staff was so impressed with his
you are truly missing out! abilities and determination that he won a small scholarship
Held on the veranda of that enabled him to take the center’s next level, eight-week
the National Croquet Club’s course.
center, overlooking its lush Since then, he has won another, larger scholarship and
green lawns, it a great venue finally was sponsored by the center, and friends of the center,
for Benzaitens’s annual gala. to be Rob Stern’s assistant at Pilchuk, the internationally
The men love it because it is a Croquet Club’s veranda venue famous glass school founded by Dale Chihuly. During
casual affair, and after dressing this stint he met many hardworking professional artists
up all season this is a welcome reprieve. The silent auction one of the city’s many Title 1 schools. He was able to take who have made their careers in the field of glassblowing,
is stellar due to all the many talented glass artists who some art classes, and one day, at one of the school’s art sharing in their comradery and experiencing their strong
contribute to it each year. They are so thankful to have such exhibits, a scout from the Bak Middle School of the Arts sense of community and shared knowledge. He understood
a great glass art facility here in Palm Beach County that approached Mateo about applying to his school. With help the fullness of what it meant to call yourself a professional
they are more than happy to support the cause with some of from his teachers and other kids who had gone through the artist. Yes, it could be fun, but it also meant many long years
their best work. Also, because of an inside connection with same process, he filled out the necessary application forms of hard work to hone your skills and to ultimately develop
a major wine collector, the silent auction provides some of and set up a date for his “tryout.” He’ll never forget that day. a signature style that you could call your own.
the best wines to bid on such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Full of nervous tension, he went to the Bak MSOA’s campus He now works at Benzaiten five days a week, which has
Chateau Margaux, or Chateau D’Yqeum … just to name a where he and other potential students were led into a room enabled him to quit his cleaning job. Working as an assistant
few! Sandy James who is the in-house food purveyor for with four kids at each table. These tables were stocked with to the many different professional artists who rent time at
the Croquet Club always offers up some of the best catered sheets of card-stock paper, scissors and tape, and each child Benzaiten has empowered Mateo and made him proficient
food in town. And because JoAnne (JB) Berkow, founder was given the same assignment: to build a structure using enough in his skills so that one day soon, he will be able
and president of the center insists on everyone having a the least amount of tape as possible. He must have done a to begin making his own exotic creations. A career in art is
good time, she always makes sure that the band is the best good job as he was accepted, and subsequently attended definitely not for the faint of heart.
at getting people up and dancing! Bak for the next three years. After that, he went onto the To learn more about the gala, please contact the Benzaiten
But just as important to Berkow and the entire board of Dreyfoos School of the Arts and ultimately would finish his office or go to their website and press “On the Veranda”
the Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts is raising money for junior and senior years at Lake Worth High School, where under the “Events” tab. You can also make a donation online
their many outreach programs in arts and culture by means he was encouraged to take part in the city’s famous “Street or by contacting the office.
of free classes and scholarships for young adults who want Painting Festival.” www.benzaitencenter.org
to continue a career in art. “We see well over 1,000 kids His schooling, spent predominantly in schools dedicated (561) 508-7315
through our doors each year free of charge,” says Berkow, to the arts, offered him a tremendous education in art that inspired@benzaitencenter.org
adding, “This gives these children and teens an exposure he would have never received attending ordinary schools. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
to the arts and what it means to make art that they would Thinking art consisted mainly of painting and drawing Find Us: 1105 Second Avenue South, Lake Worth Beach,
otherwise not be exposed to. It also instills in them a deeper when he began, his mind opened to what else was possible. FL 33460
cultural appreciation that will hopefully stay with them for He learned color theory, art history, different styles and GPS doesn’t always get you here: Exit I-95 at Sixth
a lifetime. We also give thousands of scholarship dollars disciplines, trying his hand at etching, sculpting and many Avenue and go east. Take a left at the blue Kwik Stop Store
away each year as well. Some we give to talented, in-need other mediums. and then a right on Third Avenue South. Park in our parking
artists, and others we give to benefit organizations such as After high school he went to work on a cleaning crew lot or anywhere on the street.
the Boys and Girls Clubs to enable them to participate in with his parents. He might have been stuck in that job had it
our summer kids’ programs.” not been for a sign he noticed about a place called Benzaiten
Center for Creative Arts, which had glassblowing classes. He
The Following Is An

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David Mateo’s & Home Décor
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reality? Of course, 10% OFF the ticketed
that was exactly the typical reaction one would expect, price
and the patriarch of Mateo’s family was no exception. The (Expires 4/06/2025)
Mayan culture, as so many cultures around the world, is set
up as a male-dominated society. However, as we all know,
many households within such societies are often ruled by its 3 Convenient Locations
women. Here’s where Mateo’s dreams of an art career got 111 N US 1, 3918 Northlake Blvd, 14555 S Military Trail,
a helping hand. Constantly drawing and doodling from an North Palm Beach, FL 33408 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33403 Delray Beach, FL 33484
early age, he obtained the encouragement from his mother 561-625-9569 561-694-2812 561-699-9797
to keep his artistic impulses alive and well.
He lived in the second poorest city in Palm Beach County, Store Hours Mon - Sat 10 - 6, Sun 11 - 5 (Sun 12 - 5 at US 1 location only)
Lake Worth, attending South Grade Elementary School,