A Village of Volunteers – A Thank You

It takes a village to support a non-profit; people who volunteer their time or talent, supporters who care about the non-profit project and most importantly people willing to lend financial support. Cloverdale is a village supporting many non-profits, including the Cloverdale Sculpture Trail, a public art exhibit.

April is National Volunteer month, and the 17th is the start of National Volunteer week. Over the past 18 years the Sculpture Trail has reached out to the community for a variety of tasks; welding, painting, engineering, photography, website, brochures, news articles, posters with success. Additional volunteers assisted with installation, sign and brochure placement and a multitude of tasks as the Trail is entirely a volunteer organization, like many non-profits. The reach went beyond volunteers to financial supporters as community financial support is the backbone of the Trail.

The question might be asked, why support a public art exhibit in downtown Cloverdale? Public art matters because our community gains cultural, social, and economic value and uniqueness. Seventy percent of Americans believe that the “arts improve the image, identity and pride” of their community. Public art also ignites the imagination, encourages thought and prompts discourse.

We appreciate the help received over the years. A complete list of sponsors, donors and volunteers, from 2013 to 2022 can be found under each individual “Past Trail“.

Thank you Cloverdale for Embracing Public Art.

Just a Few of Our Amazing Volunteers

Our volunteers, past and present, enjoy supporting the Trail, finding time around their family, job, and other commitments to give time to Trail volunteering. They also believe in public art, that it contributes to a community’s identity, fosters community pride and a sense of belonging, and enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors.

Following are three stories to give you a glimpse into the Sculpture Trail world.

Jude Gibson

I met Jude while she was taking photos of actors in the upcoming play at the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center.  With a background in photography and as a videographer, Jude showed interest in the Sculpture Trail. Shortly after meeting Jude, she became our official Trail photographer and videographer beginning in 2013 and will be doing her last shoot and video for the 2022-2024 Trail.

Each year Jude would arrange for a day off to photograph our installations. This entailed numerous photos of installing each sculpture, a photo of each exhibiting sculptor and a photo of the sculpture with its creator.

For the sculptor video each year It is Jude’s job to come up with a theme, add images of each sculptors’ work, studio images and other materials. The hardest task is finding music that seems appropriate for each year’s video that is public domain, published before 1923 or original from a composer. Copywritten music comes with a fee and nonpayment could, as well, result in a penalty fee.

Photos at our website are Jude’s and her videos can be seen on YouTube.

Tony Chavez

Tony is an installation volunteer. He is very friendly and helpful when assisting sculptors which is appreciated.  Tony is young and strong, meaning he is more qualified to help wrestle a sculpture off a truck or trailer. This is appreciated by the other installation volunteers.

As a jobholder Tony also must arrange for a day off to assist with installation. A story must be told about his dedication. After agreeing to assist with an installation a few years he went from a day shift to a night shift. Tony went from his night shift to installation working until 4:00 pm. Later I learned Tony had been up 24 hours. When asked why he helped at installation after 8 hours at work, Tony answered, I made the commitment to assist, so I assisted.

Penny Paden

Penny is a newcomer to Cloverdale arriving 3 years ago. Having researched Cloverdale and taken the Sculpture Trail, Penny decided to attend the Artists Reception in 2019.  When an appeal for volunteers was given Penny signed up. Penny became the brochure stocker, restocking brochures in brochure boxes and on business counters. When restocking, Penny checks the sculptures for damage and removes broken brochure boxes for repair. Penny can be relied upon to keep brochures available for the public.

Honoring Our Volunteers

If you see someone we missed, please let us know so we can add them!

VolunteerYears with Trail
Virginia Ashurs 2019
Rick Baldomero2004, 2005, 2006, 2019
Sam Beeson2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Shawn Bovee2018, 2019
Holuléalani Bovee2019
Anne Bradford2004
Mary Ann Brigham2013-2022
Harvey Brody 2015, 2020, 2022
Ron Beown2004
Walter Byck2008
Tony Chavez 2019, 2022
Claudia Chow2018, 2019
Cloverdale Performing Arts2013-2022
Sherri Corron2017, 2018, 2019
Frank Coster2015
Gay Dawson2005, 2007
David Domeniconi2013, 2014, 2017-2019
Tim Eischens2016
Sandy Erickson2007, 2016-2022
Wendy Free2005
Charmaine Garland2016, 2017
Jude Gibson2014-2022
Marge Gray2003,  2005
Susan Grossman2007, 2014-2018, 2020, 2021, 2022
Julene Gurdis2003
Yave Guzman2016, 2017-2020
Joe Hawley2005, 2008
Waren Houx-Shaeffer 2014, 2016
Janet Howell2005, 2006, 2013-2022
Jim & Donna Hurd2003
Bruce Johnston2005
Jennifer Jordan2018
Shelly Kennedy2006, 2007
Ellen Knudsen 2008
 Jude Lathford2016
Debra Lehane2008, 2014-2017
Chuck Mann2003
Chuck Mann2016-2022
 Frank Miller2005
Jean Moorey2007
Kay Nelson2020
Pauline Newman2003
Steve Oliver2008
Penny Peden2020, 2021, 2022
Leslie Pengis 2018
Tedd Peterson2003-2016
Jill Plamann2019
Ron Rodgers2004
Ron Segemund2003, 2008
Carol Setterlund2005
Lynn Small2016
Bryan Tedrick 2006
Sandy Thompson2004, 2007
Ina Tuck2007
Jonatha Unglesn2016
Tracy Valva2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Michael Vala2017, 2018
John Valva2017-2019
Bill Valva2017, 2018
Paul Valva2019
Al & Judy Voigt2008
Lenny Vonhoogenstyn2018, 2021, 2022
Albert Walker2003, 2012
Catlin Walker2003
Nancy Walker2003
Patricia Watts2006
Robin Wilkinson2019
Kathy Zunino2014