Letter to Alfred Frankenstein from Floyd Bettiga

tiVlMBOLbX 422 flR3r SIR€tX-tVlKtKX,CAllFORrvI '550J M a y 1 0 , 1 9 7 8 Mr. Alfred l-rnnkcnstein • 901 Mission Street San Francisco, Ca 94119 re: Roninno Gabriel "Sculpture Garden" Dear Mr. Frankenstein: The Humboldt Cultural Center in Eureka is planning a sumnier exhibition of folk art by the late Eurekan, Romano Gabriel, an Italian i mini j;rant. lUs Avork is nationally recognized, as you may kiuiw, with ]>]i(>tograpl)s liaving a])peared in numurous publications, and in exhibits at MIT and llarvard, as well as in the book "All tlieir Own, People and Places They Build", by Jan Wampler. Also, in 1 976, j-iarts of the garden and pliotos were featured in the San I-rancisco Museum of Modern Art, in a folk art show curated by S e y m o u r R o s e n . The sculptures were located in front of Mr. Gabriel's I'lircka linjiie until his death; then, this past year the property wa^ Mr. and Mrs. Ray Vfllutlni, Hurokans, were able to purchase the garden, and have since restored the majority of the sculptures, having to move the garden, as the land and buildings were accpji red by anotlier party. The restored sculptures will be on view during this unique Cultural Center exhibit. Friday, June 2nd is the official opening date of the exhibition beginning at 7:00 P.M., with the sh'ow continuing through August llth. On behalf of the Cultural Center located at 422 First Street in Eureka's historic Old Town area, an invita tion is extended to you to attend the opening as a special guest lêcause of your interest in folk art. If not convenient at that date, however, a rrange]5ients could be made to host you during any dates of the show, at a time better suited to your schedule. ^'ecause of your exjiertise in reviewing the arts, it is lite Impo of tlie show's sp((nsors th:it you might consider re- vJeuinji '1"-' shov^, and/or TfuM that it would be worthy of a photo feature space, with your fojjy, in "This World" or "California I. i i II jj" . While the Cultural Center is a non-profit organization, whatever pre-stated expenses necessary to cover the cost of your tiavel and lodging, perhaps at the Eureka Inn, could be covered. Or, i f you slioultl prefer, the Vellutinis would house you in their historic liome, or 1 would, gladly, in my coujitry residence, wlicre Vi M i u n u j i l b e a s s u j c d o f c ( > ) i i j > l e t e p r i v a c y, y e t b e b u t 1 0 m i n u t e s f r o m F u r r k a . Page Two Mr. Alfred Frankenstein I Jiâve taken the liberty of enclosing a packet of information and photos of the Garden, for you to perusei? Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this request. Would it be possible for yoi^ to reply by the end of May so that if you do plan to visit ther North Coast and see the exhibit, the details of your stay could be finalized, in cluding a tour of the Carson Mansion, known as the most photo graphed Victorian in the nation. r, InciclcntHjly it is tlie wish of the Vellutihis to pre- bent tiie Garden to the City of }3ureka, locating th6 sculjitures in Old Town, duplicating the sculptures* original envirojimen^v lOKcver, other possibilities arc being explored and the Vellitinis have contacted a longtime friend of mine, Helen Heninger from Cnjinps, who is looking into the possibility of placing the bculjUurcs in a museum. Perhaps you might havê some suggestions. I,coking forward to hearing from you. S i n c c r e l y , " - Floyd Bettiâ, Art JnstrucTor College of the Redwoods Eureka, California 95501 ( 707) 443- 8411 / Residence,: P . 0 . B o x 5 6 . Bayside, Ca 95524 ( 7 0 7 ) 8 8 2 - 0 7 6 7 H..

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