Borrego Sun - Since 1949

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Basic Assistance to Students in the Community (BASIC) will hold its Annual Circle of Art Show and Sale on March 12 and 13 at Christmas Circle, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This juried fine arts show and sale is free to the public and features more than forty exhibitors from all over the Southwest. The chosen artists exhibit quality paintings and artworks representing a variety of media including oil and watercolors, photography, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, weaving and jewelry. Come meet the artists and enjoy the beauty and variety of their talents! At the same time, you will be helping the children of Borrego. All the proceeds of the Circle of Art Show support educational opportunities for the children of Borrego. Here are some of the special events BASIC is holding at this year’s Circle of Art Show and Sale.

Every year, BASIC selects one of the artists exhibiting at the show to become the artist of the year for the following years’ show and to make and sell posters of one of his or her paintings. This year’s artist of the year is Larry Hemmerich. His artwork “is a window into (his) love for the natural world around (him)”. See his beautiful desert image chosen for this year’s Circle of Art poster in the ad for the show in this edition of the Borrego Sun. You will find his posters for sale, along with posters from previous years’ shows, in BASIC’s poster booth at the Circle.

Also on display in the poster booth will be a rare opportunity to own an original painting by Dillie Thomas. Dillie Thomas, who was chosen as BASIC’s artist of the year in both 1992 and 1998, was one of the most prominent California Desert oil painters.

“She was an artist dedicated to capturing the essence and the magnificence of some of the earth’s most distinctive landscapes.” Her work is found throughout the United States, Canada and Japan. Come see this beautiful painting: “You feel as if she is inviting you to go for a walk through the desert with her.” You will want to take it home with you.

And last but not least, BASIC will hold a silent auction for a most unusual artwork: a Jeroboam wine bottle (empty) with David Salk’s poster of the year beautifully engraved on it. David was artist of the year in 2000. Come by the poster booth and marvel at the exquisite detail of the engraving and place your bid!

Of course, there will also be food trucks for your lunch or snack and the weather promises to be perfect!

How does your support of the Circle of Art Show help the children of Borrego?

By the Numbers: Over the past 30 plus years, 100% of the proceeds from the Circle of Art Shows have gone to help the children of Borrego. Currently BASIC’s Cradle to Graduation (C2G) educational program for children has 3-parts:

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library brings an age-appropriate book monthly to children from birth to age 5. Basic’s sponsorship began in 2015 and has supported 310 children for a total cost of $7,800.

The Summer Learning Academy is a one-of-a-kind program providing over 100 hours of free instruction to elementary and junior high school children needing a boost in reading, math or literacy. It began in 2016 and has supported 160 students for a cost of $487,000.

This is the 25th year of BASIC’s Start-School and Stay-in-School Scholarships. BASIC supports students attending trade school, community college, 4-year college and university and even graduate programs. In the past 25 years, BASIC has made 443 scholarship awards totaling $620,000.

All in all, BASIC has raised over $1,100,000 to support the children of Borrego. BASIC’s Circle of Art Show and Sale is our major fundraiser, come enjoy the show, add some fine art to your home, and help us help our children to succeed!

For more information, please visit: http://www.borregobasic.org/circle-of-art

BASIC is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization committed to empowering youth and adults in the Borrego Springs community to pursue educational opportunities and achievement by providing grants, scholarships and programs that will help these students reach their potential and realize their dreams.