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Hub Show a Pleasure to Attend

by Rose Safran

In its third year under the management of N. Pendergast (Penny) Jones, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston's annual Decorative Arts and Antiques Show fund-raiser was a pleasure to attend. This year's event was held March 2-4 with a preview on March 1.

While the tone of the annual event held at the Castle at Park Plaza remains subdued, refined, traditional Boston, the range of offerings is wide and exciting, in keeping with the thrust of the organization's goal to "showcase fine arts, home furnishings, and crafts from many cultures and eras."

At this show, country meets exotica, the 21st century joins hands with antiquity, rare museum-worthy artifacts live side by side with affordable treasures, and America reaches out to other continents. Such wide diversity assures visitors of an interesting cultural and shopping experience, and all exhibits reflect taste in carefully arranged settings.

There were a few last-minute glitches, such as some lighting problems for a few booths, but Penny Jones was immediately on top of them. Commented Jones, "When they built the walls, they enclosed some sockets, making it difficult to correct when a dealer accidentally overloaded."

Most of the dealers who exhibited in Jones's first season with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston in 1999 (when she was hired to replace Jackie Sideli of Malden Bridge Productions and the show was given a new name) continue to put this show on their regular annual agenda. Some who left at that time have returned and reported being happy to be back.

Of note is the fact that some dealers who are unable to participate for various reasons, such as Boston's venerable Vose Galleries, continue to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston by advertising in its show catalog. The few dealers completely new to the show volunteered that they felt lucky to get in and commented on the "friendly family feeling."

This year the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston created and maintained a booth of its own for the first time, filling it with colorful artwork, rugs, and ceramic plates created under professional supervision by the children at the various clubhouses. A silent auction of the handcrafted items in this booth benefited the association. Commented Linda Whitlock, the charitable organization's president and CEO, "This year's show marked the first time our young club members had a direct presence through their clever and imaginative artwork, which made the event more relevant and meaningful than ever before."

The work was created under the direction of art directors and skilled ceramic artisan Jean Townsend in clubhouses in South Boston, Chelsea, Roxbury, Blue Hill, and Charlestown.

Whitlock said, "This event has always been an exciting showcase for beautiful antiques and decorative arts, attracting an impressive crowd of supporters who appreciate fine things as well as Boston's young people."

The gala preview party was attended by 600 people, and the weekend gate brought in over 1500. These figures are slightly lower than in recent years. Friday, when M.A.D. attended, we did hear a few comments that the aisles weren't as full as in the past for the Thursday evening opening. Weekend lectures and a luncheon, however, were well attended, and the event raised approximately $150,000 for the charitable organization.

For more information, call Judy Mastrocola at (617) 994-4703.