Art in the Café Fundraiser Benefits Project Graduation for Governor Livingston Seniors

The massive cafeteria was transformed into a colorful and exciting sidewalk café with the work of 26 artists that included: painters, photographers, potters, jewelry designers and stained glass designers, on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Governor Livingston High School.

 The fundraising event called  ‘Art in the Café,’ was organized to benefit Project Graduation 2011, an all night off-site event that offers graduating high school seniors the opportunity to enjoy an alcohol-free celebration with music, dancing, games, and refreshments.

The budget for the all-night celebration is $25,000, which includes the cost of a disc jockey, and a wide range of activities for 250 graduating seniors, according to Linda Beaudry Condrillo, the organizer of the event which is sponsored by the Governor Livingston High School PTO.

The four-hour art show, which was coordinated in only two months, raised $1500.

Visitors to the show, like Joann Kennedy and Julian Blanchard of Chatham raved about several of the artists including local artist Linda Howe who demonstrated the art of touch painting.

Blanchard said, “She is truly multitalented and she allows people to explore their own creativity through her demonstration.”

Condrillo said, “At one point Linda Howe had crowds of families gathered around her, in amazement.”  

“What was key to the success of the show was the planning and expertise of volunteers like Suzy Minken of Westfield, who transformed a high school cafeteria into an exciting place for art and lovers of art to exhibit, explore and enjoy,” said Condrillo.

She said, Anjali Mehrotra, a Mountainside mother of incoming freshmen twins, donated her graphic design talents and designed and produced a spectacular poster and program for Art in the Cafe. 

Carolyn Williams, Board of Education liaison for Mountainside and Berkeley Heights was an instrumental player in the event bringing her talent for merchandising to add to the beauty of the event, said Condrillo.

Other local artists who participated in the event included: Charlann Meluso of Berkeley Heights, Jeri Greenberg of Mountainside, and Linda Howe of New Providence who contributed pieces of artwork for the silent auction.

 “It was an exhilarating process to spearhead and see the project to completion. All of the artists were a pleasure to work with and it was a joy meeting them and getting to know their work. I didn't want the day to end and it was -- May 21st -- after all,” said Condrillo.

The Governor Livingston PTO Project Graduation is seeking additional donations, both monetary and “in kind” donations which could include: gift certificates, salons, and restaurants.

Gift certificates are used as door prizes, and for raffles and enticements at fundraising events throughout the year.  

Condrillo said one more fundraising event is in the planning stages.

Gift cards and checks in any denomination can be made payable to GL/PTO Project Graduation, and mailed to Governor Livingston H.S., 175 Watchung Blvd., Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922.