Party Line: Blacksmiths hoof it up at Repair Days bash

Aubrey Pontious (from left), Elisha Gold, Lauren Bryant and Abraham Pardee partied Saturday night during Repair Days at the National Ornamental Metal Museum.

Instead of cutting iron, blacksmiths cut loose and cut the rug Saturday night following the Repair Days Art Auction at the National Ornamental Metal Museum. Along with the venison stew, the dance party is one of the Saturday evening traditions during the three-day Repair Days, when people bring in metal objects to be repaired by blacksmiths and metalsmiths from around the country.

In the same tent as the dance party, blacksmiths and museum volunteers also took part in "Ropey Stumpy." Blacksmiths Haley Woodward and Colby Brinkman introduced the game at last year's Repair Days. It's played by two people who stand on concrete blocks and try to yank each other off the block, explained Haley, who said he used to play it in grade school.

"It's like a tug of war, but better," explained blacksmith Jacob Brown.

A former Metal Museum intern, Jacob, who now works in Oakland, Calif., is one of the many fans of the museum. "The Metal Museum is like a home base for blacksmiths," he said, adding: "Blacksmiths are a family."

Around $60,000 was raised at this year's Repair Days, said museum director Carissa Hussong. About $13,000 of that was from doing repairs.

Paw Prints 2011

People wanted to get their paws on George Hunt's print, "Minstrel Show Diva," at Paw Prints 2011, a fundraiser for The Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County held Saturday night at Memphis Botanic Garden. They also bid on a variety of other artwork, including photographs and paintings, in the silent auction.

The event, which raised money for injured and abused animals, also included performances by opera soprano Kallen Esperian, vocalist Susan Marshall and classical guitarist Lily Afshar.

Wine label reception

Veteran artist Dolph Smith was on hand at RiverArtsFest's wine label reception Sept. 26 at Tsunami restaurant. The labels for the cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay wine bottles feature an adaptation of a painting Dolph made for this year's RiverArtsFest poster.

Since the festival will feature a mixture of artists using two-dimensional and three-dimensional art forms, Dolph decided to combine both forms in his work. "The painting I have is a watercolor sky background," he said. "And sealed onto the glass front protecting the watercolor is a three-dimensional wooden boat -- kind of like a houseboat. Like a shack that's gone to sea. So I've combined the illusionistic with the three-dimensional to sort of salute everybody."

This year's free festival, which will be Oct. 22 and 23 in the South Main Arts District, will feature more than 50 performers on three stages and more than 160 artists from around the country.

Ave Maria Foundation dinner

Brother Stan Sobczyk and Angelo Lucchesi were honored at the Ave Maria Foundation dinner Sunday night at Heffernan Hall at Christian Brothers High School.

Brother Stan, who was president of Christian Brothers University from 1999 to 2005, recently retired as president of the School of Applied Theology in Berkeley, Calif.

Angelo, whose close friend Frank Sinatra used to call him "Kid," began his career with Jack Daniel's Distillery as its first salesman. Now semiretired, Angelo is the marketing and public relations consultant for Brown-Forman Co., which owns the Jack Daniel's Distillery.

The Ave Maria Foundation dinner recognizes outstanding individuals who make the local community a better place to live. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund programs and activities for nursing home residents in Ave Maria's Green House homes.

Brother Joel McGraw, CBHS assistant principal and last year's honoree, played piano during the cocktail hour. Other past honorees are Memphis Bishop J. Terry Steib, WMC-TV news anchor Joe Birch and former Little Rock Bishop James Peter Sartain.

Red Slipper Auction Party

Male caddies were auctioned off at the Red Slipper Auction Party the night before the Sept. 26 Red Slipper golf tournament at Windyke Country Club.

The party was held at the East Memphis home of Vince and Anne Boberski. Proceeds from the auction and the tournament benefit the Methodist Hospice Residence.

It was raining, but the caddies stood in the yard so bidders could observe them from the Boberski deck -- sort of like watching gladiators in a forum.

Guests didn't have to play golf to bid on a caddy, auctioneer Carol Ross-Spang informed the gathering.

"Can they lay mulch?" Joel Smith yelled.

Cullen Kent, chef/owner of Café Society, provided the party food along with caterer Jennifer McCullough. Cullen also participated in the auction. "And he can cook better than you," Carol told the crowd when she introduced the chef.

Cullen went for $250. He said he could only be a "nine-hole caddy," though, because he had "to do carpool."

-- Michael Donahue: (901) 529-2797; donahue@commercialappeal.com

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