THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505200100
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY REBECCA A. MYERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
FOUR DAYS OF ART and entertainment will fill the waterfront Memorial Day weekend as the city celebrates the silver anniversary of the Seawall Art Show.
The weekend celebration kicks off Thursday night with an outdoor concert, picnic and puppet show - ``Picnic, Pops and Punch'' - on the grounds of the Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
On Friday night an Island party on the deck outside Amory's Wharf will be held to raise funds for the art show.
The art show on Saturday and Sunday will feature 82 artists from Ohio to Florida exhibiting works from paintings, pottery and photography to sculpture, printmaking and jewelry.
``This is our 25th year, and we're trying to make it special,'' said Joyce LaFramboise, administrative assistant of the Portsmouth Museums.
The Seawall Art Show has evolved through the years from a small outdoor show sponsored by the Portsmouth Jaycees at Portsmouth City Park.
In 1971, the event was held downtown to celebrate the completion of the Seawall along the waterfront. It's been known as the Seawall Art Show ever since.
Some of the first local artists to participate in earlier shows included Lillian Rosenthal, John Taylor and J. Robert Burnell.
Ruth and M.R. ``Spike'' Splichal were local artists on one of the first Seawall Art Show committees. Because the Splichals had participated in art shows all over the country, they were able to make suggestions based on the ``exhibitor's perspective.''
``We got into it, really, to protect the artists,'' said Ruth Splichal, 72. ``We wanted them to get a fair shake.''
In the early days, the show was much larger than it is today.
``They took in anybody, and the show was getting a lot of criticism,'' she said. ``There were people there with crocheted toilet paper holders, shell jewelry and other things like that.''
Eventually, the committee voted to jury participants and eliminate work not considered original. The Splichals stayed on the committee until about two years ago when the Portsmouth Museums took over.
In 1990, Spike Splichal, who works in clay, won ``Best In Show.'' Ruth Splichal, who does ``crazy, light-hearted and fun'' art, placed third in last year's show.
The Seawall Art Show ``is a fine show with lots of good, quality work,'' said Ruth Splichal. ``Some people who come from out of town say it's their very best show.''
Last year, 70 artists competed for $4,500 in prizes, which included a $1,500 ``Best In Show'' award. A $100 ``Best in Show'' award was given to the top student artist. The prizes will remain the same this year.
Another $5,000 was spent last year in ``purchase awards,'' money set aside by businesses and individuals to buy art at the show.
About $4,500 in purchase awards has been promised so far this year.
Entertainment has been scheduled all day Saturday and Sunday. But the first concert will be performed by the Navy Show Band at the Naval Hospital picnic kickoff on Thursday.
The event, which also features the Wappadoodle Puppets, will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Though some picnic tables and lawn chairs will be provided, guests are encouraged to bring blankets or folding chairs.
Thanks to a new parking garage that holds nearly 3,000 cars, parking should not be a problem. And no special decals are needed to get on the base.
``The hospital is an open base until 8 o'clock at night,'' said Bob Killion, the hospital director of Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Soft drinks and adult beverages will be sold throughout the evening. Guests may bring their own picnic lunches or order a gourmet boxed meal from Brutti's.
The boxed meals must be ordered and paid for in advance and are $8 each. They will be available beginning at 5 p.m.
The menu includes potato salad, cole slaw, a pickle, a brownie and a choice of honey-smoked turkey and swiss, white albacore tuna salad or roast beef and white cheddar on a baguette or chunky chicken salad with a baguette.
A child's meal, available for $3, includes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a fruit cup, a chocolate chip cookie and a prize.
Orders must be received by Tuesday. No extra dinners will be available for sale.
To order, include number of meals and selection and make checks payable to NMD/OWC. Checks should be mailed to: Picnic, Pops & Punch, c/o Portsmouth Museums, 420 High St., Portsmouth, Va. 23704-3622.
The event is being hosted by the Naval Morale Department, the Officers Wives Club and the Seawall Art Show Committee of the Portsmouth Museums.
For more information, call 393-8983.
The festivities will continue on Friday with ``Island Time at Amory's Wharf,'' a fund-raiser for the Seawall Art Show.
The benefit will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the deck outside the restaurant, located at the Tidewater Yacht Agency.
Admission is $12 and includes a buffet dinner of barbecue and seafood and entertainment by the Louisiana Mudbugs.
The party will move inside Amory's Wharf in the event of rain.
A limited number of tickets will be sold, so advance purchase is recommended. Tickets are available at Portsmouth Museums, 420 High St. Call 393-8983 for information.
The art show will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 28, at Portside.
In addition to the juried show, Saturday's show will include an exhibition of work by Portsmouth students in middle and high school. MEMO: [For related stories, see microfilm of The Currents for this date.]
by CNB