>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Patrons of the arts in Union County enjoy last year's Grande Gala, which was held at the Historic Union Hotel. (FUN AT THE GALA).

LA GRANDE - The vision for an art and culture center in Union County will come to life — in "rough'' form — Saturday night at the La Grande Carnegie library building.

Grande Gala in the Rough is planned for 6:30 to 10 p.m. to raise funds and draw attention to the Union County Art and Culture Center Committee's efforts to develop the 1913 building into an art and community center.

The evening will include a full dinner catered by Class Act Catering, jazz by Kit Garoutte and Margaret Linn and wine served by Gilstrap Winery. The gala will also feature works by various Union County artists. Forty percent from the sale of each art piece will go to the art and culture center.

Tickets are $50 a person and can be purchased at The Potter's House, Sunflower Books, The Miter's Touch and at McGlasson's.

The UCACC was created in 2004 as a subcommittee of the Union County Cultural Coalition for the purpose of establishing a self-supporting art and culture center in Union County.

Early in 2005 it was determined by the committee that this group would best function as a separate entity with its own 501c3 designation. The remainder of 2005 was devoted to drafting bylaws and to processing paperwork to become incorporated and obtain non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service.

The committee has been searching for the perfect property for a community center and has been raising funds. It hopes to soon have the use of the Carnegie building, though no agreement with the City of La Grande has been finalized.

Officers are Barb Dimond, chair; Ruth Yeates, vice chair; Marlis Rufener, secretary; Minnie Tucker, treasurer. Board members are Bob Jensen, Joan'E Ferdun, Roy Gomez, Sandy Woodward and Theresa Henderson.

UCACC envisions a cultural gathering place that encompasses many aspects of the uniqueness of the region and its inhabitants. The committee sees the Carnegie building as a venue for showcasing the region's talent, history and uniqueness, including local art, music, dance, history, geology, agriculture and agricultural practices, wildlife, avian life native plants. The center would also be available for visitation, education, meetings, conferences, lessons and classes and open art studios.