Arts Council Menifee Displays Its Expanding Programs

Authors Al Mozingo (center) and Robert Duchin (right) talk to guests at the literary table Sunday.

Arts Council Menifee used a different venue to showcase its expanding collection of talented local artists, sponsoring its second open house Sunday at the Marion Ashley Community Center.

The Arts Council, which regularly displays paintings of local artists in its gallery inside the Kay Ceniceros Center, showed guests Sunday how much the group has grown in the last two years. In addition to a fine arts display, local authors displayed recently published books, local musician Richard Lee performed on the guitar, and council board members described plans for new programs in performing arts and dance.

A Theater Arts committee, headed by board member Linda Denver, was formed last month and already is reaching out to performing arts teachers at Heritage and Paloma Valley high schools.

"We recently had a reception for arts teachers at the high school level," said Dawn Prather, Arts Council president. "We would even like to involve the elementary schools. We're very fortunate in this area that Heritage and Paloma Valley have very active performing arts programs."

The Council will sponsor a Children's Summer Arts Institute next year and has plans to involve 800 local children in its programs. In addition, a meeting will be held Sept. 27 at Sun City Library for those interested in joining the council's new dance program.

"We hope to teach dance classes and maybe have dancers come to these events to perform," said Judy Hyneman, Arts Council treasurer. "Wouldn't it be fun to have a flash mob at something like this?"

At the council's literary display, local authors Robert Duchin and Al Mozingo offered copies of their books for sale and interacted with guests. Duchin's book, "Not Enough of Her," is a self-published book that grew out of the memoirs of his wife Susan, who died a year and a half ago after 47 years of marriage.

"I originally did this as a legacy for our children," Duchin said. "I don't intend to make even my investment back. I just want to share the story with others. It's about grieving, my memories and stories, letters we shared ... it's a love story."

Duchin's book is available for purchase at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and authorhouse.com.

Mozingo's book, "Getting to Agape: Lessons in Love," is a Christian-based book exploring God's love for his children. It was created over the course of 20 years from items kept in a notebook by Mozingo, a youth minister and Director of Christian Initiative for his church. It is available at www.tatepublishing.com.

Arts Council Menifee's next event is an art gallery reception Sept. 9 at Kay Ceniceros Center. For more information, visit artscouncilmenifee.org.