The winners of last year’s Arts on Fire exhibition awards, Mark Roko Jurasin and Jane Woolverton, have filled the East Wing Gallery with vibrant samples of their work.

Mark Roko Jurasin’s paintings are multilayered abstracts which resonate with bold colors. Mark has spent over forty years as an art director among several Bay Area ad agencies. He now devotes himself to painting full time. “I followed my nose,” he recently said. “Or, rather I tried not to think, but just to paint.”

Jane Woolverton salvages things people toss away and turns them into art. In her section of the gallery, she uses plastic six-pack holders, adds color using acrylics, combines them with thread and creates airy, wall hangings that seem to float against the walls like clouds rather than hang from it. Subtle color changes creates an eerie, etherial effect.

There probably is not a single exhibiting Art Guild member who hasn’t met Lana Thomson. Lana, the smiling, friendly woman with striking white hair and tropical tan, greeted anyone delivering artwork for West Wing shows, and encouraged all of us to sign up as gallery attendants.

Lana, who has recently completed four plus years of service as gallery staffing coordinator, deserves credit for her tremendous contribution to the Art Guild of Pacifica and Sanchez Art Center. She has been the one individual who always made sure that there were gallery attendants and without Lana’s coordination, the galleries would not have remained open.

Lana has announced her resignation as gallery staffer to attend to even more demanding family and volunteer commitments. We’ll truly miss Lana’s wonderful ability to carry out her responsibilities with wonderful humor, cheer and tremendous persuasion. Lana worked great magic, and few among us were able to tell Lana no. Often when Lana had a last minute cancellation, she graciously filled-in herself, rather than allow the gallery to be closed. Many might remember Lana’s colorful red (& subsequent) purple leg cast, a result of a fall rushing over to the art center to watch the gallery.

What many Art Guild members might not know is that in addition to tackling the challenge of gallery staffing, Lana is Chair of the Seniors-in-Action Advisory Council at Pacifica’s Community Center, and is the driving force behind their great rummage sales. Supporting a truly humanitarian cause far from Pacifica, Lana heads up the Russian Children’s Welfare Society. This organization sends clothing, toys, supplies and money to Russian orphanages and children in need. Their “Annual Day of the Russian Child” 75th Jubilee Performance and Fundraiser will happen in San Francisco at the Russian Center on Sunday, May 14. (For information, call 355-1926.)

On behalf of the Art Guild of Pacifica and the Sanchez Art Center, thank you, Lana, for your hard work and invaluable contribution to our community