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One of the joys of doing volunteer work is discovering the hidden talents of others. For instance, I didn’t know that Rhinold Ponder — who makes his living as an attorney — is an artist at heart, and a talented one. After majoring in commercial art in high school, he turned to a career in law, revisiting his childhood passion later. His signature work, Gotta Believe, reflects his philosophy “regarding the role of love, faith, and hope in our lives. I “discovered” Ponder’s paintings when he donated Perfect Harmony to tonight’s UFAR auction. Proceeds from its sale could save 350 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo from getting riverblindness — a disease that takes two lives, the affected adult and the child who leaves school to care for the adult. gaged my childhood passion as an adult, but it is most reflective of my life philosophy regarding the role of love, faith and hope in our lives
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PERFECT HARMONY, a framed 16” x 22” acrylic painting by Rhinold Lamar Ponder (www.ponderart.com). Rhinold is an artist – he majored in commercial art in high school — who happens to practice consumer and bankruptcy law. “In both pursuits, I am passionate about making the world a better place. The styles and techniques in my art vary, but I am best known for explosively colorful and energetic pieces that are designed to either beautify, uplift, or provoke critical thinking” he says. “Hopefully, Perfect Harmony is one of those that accomplishes all three missions.”
Market value: $500.
I did know that my friend Sally Ross was a quilter, but I didn’t realize what a talented fabric artist she was until I saw the wall hanging that will be auctioned tonight. (My snapshot doesn’t do it justice).
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE . . . TO ERADICATE RIVERBLINDNESS, quilted wall hanging by Sally Ross of Princeton United Methodist Church. Against the background of the dark night sky, gold stars twinkle over 24 huts of an African village. “The title refers to the ‘villages’ both in the DRC and around the globe working to eradicate this disease,” says Sally. Adapted from a pattern by Kitambaa Designs; some of the fabrics came from Africa, and all the materials are 100 percent cotton.
Market value: $250.
Two more discoveries — Aruna Arya’s Miss Simoni store and art photographer Jeffrey Yuan — are on tonight’s auction list, as below.
UNIQUE MISS SIMONI SCARF designed by Aruna Arya to compliment the FEBA Inc. dress. “The scarf is designed and constructed to be beautiful as you wear it and also keep you close to a cause,” says Aruna. Made of maroon silk fabric, combined with gold printed cotton and black cotton detailing, it is covered with embroidery and accented with beadwork. Aruna owns the fashion house, Miss Simoni, at 14 Nassau Street, Princeton. 609-252-0088. E-mail: hello@misssimoni.com. Market value: $200.
HENRY’S VIEW, a 16″ x 12″ pigmented ink image printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper matted in a 26″ x 22″ frame by Jeffrey Yuan (www.jeffreyyuan.com). This image is from his “Motion Blur” landscape series, where Jeff explores the idea of imposing movement to a landscape, thereby erasing the details of the land in attempt to define its “backbone.” Jeff uses photography as a medium to explore man’s relation to the world around him. As in his other landscape work, Henry’s View is a private secret world that he has invited the viewer to share. In this case, it is a world that would only exist as a flicker in the mind’s eye. Market value: $400.
The auction also includes the African Sunset quilt pictured here and an African-made dress. You may be able to get tickets to the evening (5:30 to 8) by emailing UFAR@princetonumc.org but — if not — (shh!) you could just show up at 7 p.m. to bid in the auction. It’s on the main floor of the Mackay Campus Center at the Princeton Theological Seminary. Use the parking lot across from Springdale Golf Club. See you there!
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