The Hollywood Hills
have always been a place favored by artists. In 1979, agroup of friends among them formed themselves into a group and
christened it
"Sharing Friends of the Arts". The group included prominent
artists of the
time such as: Marvin T. Hatley, a composer noted for writing the
theme for
the Laurel and Hardy show, The Inglewood High School theme song,
and many a score for the Hollywood's silent films. The author
Harold Robbins and his then wife Grace, whose fame went far
beyond Hollywood, and whose famous parties were so notable that
unless you were invited, you were considered a non persona in
the Hollywood world. It was a dynamic group that attracted many
artists to their mission, so clearly stated by the name they
chose to be known as. They took their title literally, and
sharing they did.
Mr. Hatley, apart from being a composer, was also a keen
gardener;
an
inventor with a Magpie tendency of collecting what others
discarded as trash. The source of this collection were his
famous neighbors such as Alberto Burri,
the great Italian abstract artist, and his wife Minsa Craig
Burri, a modern
ballet choreographer and dancer. Rudie Valley the "Heart throb"
singer of
his days.
The neighborhood group included
Mr. Lanser, a Producer and Director,
Pasqual Bettio, Photographer and innovator of the art of
Artography, Jeo
Cassini, Choreographer/Dancer, Jerry Simms, Commercial Director,
and from
the general Business world, Mr. & Mrs. Parks, and many others.
After the closure of Pasqual Bettio's Photography school, and he
befriended Mr. Hatley whose collection inspired him to create a
studio in a garage on Woodrow Wilson Drive, which became a
favorite drop in place for the neighborhood and with people
bringing in their unwanted "trash". When Sid Kroft was clearing
his
warehouse, truckloads of stuff arrived, which Pasqual has turned
into a
series of assemblage sculptures.
It was through these contacts and activities that Pasqual became
involved
with Sharing Friends of the Arts, which he has kept going ever
since.
Sharing Friends of the Arts, Hollywood International has grown
over the years with many thousand artists joining with the aim
of helping other artists, sharing
knowledge, and coming together on many occasions in public
exhibitions and
performances. It encompasses all forms of the art, from visual
to performing
art, from classical to the experimental.
The most important aspect is sharing among the artists and
sharing the art
with the public at large. For art should be easily accessible to
all as it
educates, brings joy and inspiration into life. |
©
Connecting the World through the Arts
