Joyce Gatto-A True Work of Art

Honoring Joyce and Bennie Gatto for 20th anniversary of the art show

Joyce holding up her paintings with Bennie

River Islands – dedicated sponsor of the art show gets an award for the many years of supporting the event

Lucy wins the student choice award

Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal picked a quilt titled “Kaleidoscope Garden” by Donna Gephardt as the newest addition to the Joyce Gatto Art Gallery.

Jarrod Mays’ sword wearing the name “Peace Maker” won the People’s Choice Award

The 20th Lathrop Mayors Art Show and Sale

By Jacqui Lloyd

The City of Lathrop celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Mayors Art Show and Sale in May of 2013.  Event Founder and Chairperson Joyce Gatto along with her husband Bennie were honored with a special award presented by the Art Committee and the Mayor for their continuous commitment to enriching the art culture in Lathrop.  This landmark event highlighted Joyce Gatto’s own paintings in the Joyce Gatto Gallery located at City Hall.  Gatto family members temporarily parted from their treasured paintings so everyone could enjoy them.  For the first time in 2 decades, the public had the privilege to see the brilliant work of Joyce as an artist.  She is pure inspiration.   As for the council chambers during this enchanted time of year, 135 entries to the art show covered its walls and the room displayed stories of each artist in an array of colorful images.  Event Judge Monika Meler of University of the Pacific felt honored to participate and described the collection as magical for transforming regular everyday things into magnificent pieces of art.

Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal picked a quilt titled “Kaleidoscope Garden” by Donna Gephardt as the newest addition to the Joyce Gatto Art Gallery.  The quilt also won first place in the Miscellaneous category sponsored by the Art Committee.  The Student’s Choice Award (selected by the students at Mossdale School and sponsored by the Mullen Family) was given to “Alaskan Taxi” by Lucy Leiva-Bengson.  It also won first place in the Watercolor category sponsored by Financial Center Credit Union.  Jarrod Mays’ sword wearing the name “the Peace Maker” won the People’s Choice Award (selected by the viewers during the awards reception) sponsored by Lynn Garcia. Oil & Acrylics 1st Place Sponsored by Farm World LLC went to “The Farmers” by Eliseo Contreras Vazquez; Pastels & Drawings 1st Place Sponsored by Joe’s Travel Plaza was awarded to “Bring ‘Em On” by Joan Cardoza; Photography 1st Place Sponsored by Lathrop Chiropractic was won by Maria Susana Contreras for “Endless Trail”; Sculptures/3-Dimensional Best of Show was awarded to “Water Dance” by Loren Wheale.

Sponsor Awards:   Calico Adobe Wall by Tony Martin-River Islands LLC; Welcome Home by Catherine Hatfield-Fireside Inn; Water Dance by Loren Wheale -Rebecca Enneking; Ancient Aliens    by Fidel Hurtado-CBC Steel; Buildings by Geoffrey Lum-Perez-Lum Development Company; Buildings by Geoffrey-Lum Perez-Lathrop Business Park; Just Passing Through byRasheeda Clawson-Central Valley Top Dog Club; Harvest by Rasheeda Clawson-Dello’Osso Farms; Tree Top Sentinal by John Lenhart-California Natural Products; Dad’s Treasures by Dan Voller-Allied Waste; San Francisco Street Car by Brandi Neill-Stephen Salvatore; Summer Memories by Carole Valtierra-Lathrop Rotary; My Husband’s “Toy” Classic 1964 Chevy Nova by Marjorie Nelson-USA Motors; First Date by John Lenhart-Aunty’s  Grooming; Sweet Anticipation by Corrie Vandehelm-Davis-Salvador & Brendaly Navarette.

Refreshments provided by: Allied Waste Services, Lathrop Business Park, D’Hoot Bros. dba Joe’s Travel Plaza, Stephen & Amanda Salvatore, Swiss American Sausage, Chaka Santos, and Mary Dimaggio.

Mayor’s Art Show Volunteers: Joyce Gatto-Chairperson, Jim Monty-Reception MC, Bennie Gatto-Co-Chair, Randy Johnson, Cindy Martin, Tony Martin, Tosh Ishihara, and Donna Quarry.

Special thanks to Joyce and Bennie Gatto for their inspiration, outstanding devotion and dedication to the Art Show