May 2025

Palette Newsletter

Sand Mandala @mandala.sea

Pismo Beach

President's Letter

We did it! Another successful year for Art Docents of Los Gatos in the books!

Here’s some BIG numbers for you.

This school year, Docents taught 57 Workshops at Fisher and an additional 325 Print Presentations and 90 Workshops between Lexington, Daves Avenue, Van Meter, and Blossom Hill Elementary Schools.

Add in Art Show (which takes approximately 300 volunteer hours to pull off) and countless committee hours on Curriculum, School Reps, PR, Sunshine, Hospitality, Training, Guest Artist, and Continuing Education.

No wonder we are tired!

I was lucky enough to take a quick trip to the coast a few weeks back. I woke up on our first morning to find this sand mandala at the base of the stairs where we were staying. @mandala.sea is an artist local to Pismo Beach. He made this sand mandala with just a rake in about an hour. As the day wore on, the loose sand blew over the rake lines and gave everything a sprinkled effect, and then the tide came in and little by little the entire thing was swallowed up. It was a perfect reminder that art is all around us. Cheers to some much deserved summer hours of rest, rejuvenation, sunshine.

Michelle Kuntzmann

President

LGUSD Annual Student Art Show

A Joyful Celebration of Student Art

This year’s Annual Student Art Show was one for the books! Thanks to the incredible efforts of our volunteers, it was the smoothest show we've had in years—with the fastest installation and tear-down to date.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our dedicated Art Show Committee leads, Tim Nauss and Carol Bower as well as every single volunteer who gave their time to set up, assist throughout the week, and help with the final take-down. It was truly a team effort, and we could not have done it without each and every one of you.

We also want to celebrate the amazing young artists of the Los Gatos Union School District. With nearly 3,000 pieces of art on display—representing every student—this year’s show was a vibrant and inspiring reflection of creativity across all grades.

Thank you for helping us make this event such a success. It was a beautiful reminder of what we can accomplish together!

Continuing Education

We were so grateful to attend the Mosaic Gardens once again this year for a Mosaic Workshop! Thank you for such a lovely afternoon!

Volunteer Highlight

As part of the Sunshine Committee’s Mission In 2024-25 we are going to show recognition for the contribution by one or more docents each month with a write-up in the Palette Newsletter.

This month, we are honored to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on Yoony Chang, a dedicated and kind-hearted member of our docent community for the past three years. We are sad to announce Yoony will be moving back to Korea this summer. When Yoony first joined us, she was a bit shy and hesitant to step into the spotlight. She began her journey as a supportive helper, quietly contributing behind the scenes and easing into her role. Over time, we watched her confidence blossomed. Today, she is a calm and steady presence in the classroom, leading lessons with grace and quiet confidence that puts both students and fellow docents at ease.

In addition to her classroom contributions, Yoony has played an essential role in our annual art show. She has generously given her time each year—coming in weekly to mount student artwork and volunteering throughout the event .

We wish you all the best on your next adventure—you’ll always have a special place in our hearts.

Here are some words from Yoony -

After three wonderful years here, I'll soon be heading back to Korea. Being part of the Art Docents of Los Gatos has been such a special experience for me.

I've learned so much by watching how you all bring creativity, joy and heart to everything you do - for the kids, for the schools and for our community. Your dedication has truly inspired me, and I know what I've learned here will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you for the warm memories. I'll miss you all and wish the Art Docents continued growth and happiness.

Warm regards,

Yoony Chang

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Villa Montalvo

Thank you for hosting the Art Docents!

Bring A Friend at Villa Montalvo

We recently hosted a lovely Bring A Friend recruiting event at the stunning Villa Montalvo, and it couldn’t have been a more beautiful afternoon. Surrounded by picturesque scenery, the day was filled with warmth, connection, and creativity.

The purpose of this event was twofold: to show appreciation for our wonderful docents and to invite friends who might be interested in joining our vibrant organization. We were thrilled to see so many friendly faces and potential new volunteers!

A heartfelt thank you to Michelle Abene for organizing this special event, Rohini Sharma with Hospitality for the delicious lunch, and to Izzy Delling for leading a fantastic drawing workshop.

We are also deeply grateful to Villa Montalvo for generously allowing us to host this event at their beautiful venue. Their support helped make the day truly unforgettable!

Visit Villa Montalvo

End of Year Celebration at NUMU

Thank you to NUMU for hosting our end-of-year party and treating us to a special tour of the inspiring ArtNow exhibition, showcasing the incredible work of local high school students. We are so grateful for our ongoing partnership with this wonderful museum.

Visit NUMU

To all our amazing docents—thank you for being part of our organization and for the time, heart, and creativity you share with the students of LGUSD. Wishing you a joyful and restful summer. We can’t wait to see you in the fall!

Learn More

Art Docents of Los Gatos 408-335-2366 | coordinator@artdocents.com | www.artdocents.com

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