Gala to feature alumni work, benefits Playhouse

Published 3/26/98

Former Point Park College student Lynn Fero has donated two paintings that were included at movie to an auctioning event whose proceeds benefit Point Park's fine, applied and performing arts department.

Fero's two paintings "Essex Pond," a pastel on board, and "Essex River Bank," a pastel on paper appeared in the 1997 Paramount movie "Kiss The Girls," starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.

Fero said it was ironic that her colorful style of painting would be involved in a mystery movie. "It was disconcerting to see my painting there with Morgan Freeman there talking about serial killers," she said but took solace in knowing her works were seen in the movie at a hospital, trying to brighten its gloomy setting.

Items like Fero's paintings and other Hollywood memorabilia can be seen and purchased at the fourth-annual Starmakers' Gala, which will be held on Sat., March 28, at the Sheraton Station Square, located in Pittsburgh's South Side.

Gala presentation

The Gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour and a silent auction. Dinner will be at 7, followed by a presentation of the second-annual Performing Arts Partnership and Achievement Award, which will go to Nadine Bognar, chairperson and CEO of Bognar and Company Inc.

After the FAPA presentation, there will be a live auction followed by entertainment provided by FAPA students.

"The money goes to help renovate the Playhouse and other programs at the FAPA department," according to Cheryl Gray, administrative assistant. This year's proceeds will go to help renovate FAPA's dance floors and the Playhouse's Rockwell theatre.

Some of the items scheduled to be auctioned include a letterman jacket from the movie "Batman Forever," signed by Jim Carrey, who played the "Riddler" in that feature. "We have a great deal of MGM memorabilia," Gray said.

Other items include a video collectors' set of previous James Bond films, a jacket to the upcoming movie "Lost In Space," and a historic series on Pittsburgh sponsored by WQED-TV.

In addition, certificates to various restaurants, hotels and attractions such as the Carnegie Museum are other items included in the Gala, Gray said.

Attendance figures are not finalized yet, but Gray said more than 320 tickets have been sold. The Gala is black-tie optional and tickets cost $125 each. for more information, call 392-3999.

Fero's inspiration

Other works Fero has done include "Housatonic River Bank," "Solitary Tree" and "A River Runs Dry," which was also featured in "Kiss the Girls" and has a value of $1,000.

After Fero's father passed away in 1986, she began painting as both a means of escape and a hobby. She has been exhibiting her works professionally since 1993.

Her work has been featured in more than 40 juried art shows across the country, and she is represented by galleries and agents in Albuquerque, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Locally, Fero has exhibited works at the La Fond Gallery, located on the South Side, and at the 1997 Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Painting isn't her only artistic form of expression. Fero has also written "Nutcracker: The Musical," which has been optioned by Hallmark Entertainment.

Currently, Fero is a vice president of business affairs administration in the Television Group at Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles. She manages a film and television library of more than 2,500 titles, including "I Love Lucy," and "The Honeymooners."

Although "Kiss the Girls" was a Paramount production, Fero said the fact she worked for the company played no part in her paintings being selected.

"They were shocked when they found out I made them," Fero said.

Fero graduated from Point Park in 1981 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre arts.

Click here to return to news index.