Fitting tribute to Joan Benford

BARBARA DIAMOND

No mother, no art lover, no friend could ask for a more touching

tribute than the one given the late Joan Benford Saturday at the

Laguna Beach Library.

A colorful Marlo Bartels sculpture was dedicated to her memory,

but it was the words of her son and daughter, friends and admirers

that will be remembered.

“It is a challenge to articulate the unique character of our

mother, to illustrate what is gone,” said daughter Alyson Abbe

Benford. “For her, life was not only to be explored and experienced,

it was to be celebrated.

“Today, when I look at Marlo’s sculpture, I can imagine my mother

reflected.”

She said the carved sakura blossoms, for which the sculpture is

named, recalled her mother’s pleasure in the nature, her love of

animals and her flushed face as she worked in her garden.

“The swirls and tiltings remind me of the informal grace with

which she tended to even daily tasks,” Benford said. “The angles of

ceramic recall her balance, the stability with which she dealt with

life’s challenges and accepted life’s rewards.”

Other components of the sculpture reminded her of her mother’s

elegance, accommodating nature and tender advice.

“In the connecting planes of color, the meshing of cerulean and

marine blues, I see my mother’s ability, still, to tie friends and

family together through space and time,” Benford said. “And in the

crowning sunburst of vibrant color, the sweet oranges and deep

crimson reds, I am reminded powerfully of her exuberant spirit, her

playful and ever-loving nature and the eternal flame she holds in my

heart.”

The sculpture, she said, is symbolic of her mother’s life and

reminds all who loved her to celebrate the glorious ways she shared

her life with others.

Other speakers at the dedication included city librarian Marianna

Hof, county librarian John Adams and Supervisor Tom Wilson, dapper in

black vest, pants, boots and string tie, togged out for the Swallows

Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano, which he attended before coming to

Laguna.

Julita Jones spoke on behalf of CAP -- a nonprofit organization

dedicated to increasing the visibility of public art in Laguna Beach,

promoting its value and its ability to enhance the community. Other

goals included encouraging art education and guiding public and

private partnerships through the public process.

Funding also was provided by Friends of Joan Benford, which

included her son and daughter.

Joan Benford lived in Laguna Beach for more than 30 years. She was

active in the Friends of the Library, served on the Laguna Beach Arts

Commission, volunteered at the Laguna Art Museum in the education

department and taught English as a second language.

She started the annual auctions at the Laguna Art Museum. The

first auction was called “Bagged Art.” Artists in town were sent

identical brown bags and asked to create a piece of art and donate it

for an auction. The auction raised $15,000, well beyond the most

optimistic expectations and all of it for the museum -- the artists

asked for and got nothing except gratitude.

“Joan passed away suddenly two years ago,” said son, Mark Benford.

“At her memorial service, my sister and I accepted donations in lieu

of flowers. I see many of you here today who participated.”

He gave special thanks to Pat Cooper and Becky Jones, who helped

organize a reception, held in the library patio after the dedication.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

Neighborhood Watch is asking residents to open their wallets as

well as their eyes.

When the watch was organized in 1981, there were 610 burglaries

that year in Laguna Beach. Last year, there were 150.

Neighborhood Watch is an important factor in the 75% decrease in

burglaries, according to President Joe Jahraus.

It couldn’t be done without the eyes and ears of the residents,

but financial support is necessary to fund programs, such as free

home and business security inspections, personal safety presentations

and school programs, including the prevention of abduction, drug and

alcohol abuse and violence.

Tax-deductible donations may be sent to P.O. Box 1902, Laguna

Beach, CA 92652.

For more information about the organization or programs, call

coordinator Coleen Walloch at (949) 497-0382. For more information

about participating, call (949) 497-4540.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.