Story and Photos by Manny Meland

	Art enthusiasts in Conni Gordon’s class

The Mistress of Masterpieces

Could you create a Van Gogh, a Mattise, a Picasso ? Have a try with Conni Gordon.

Conni Gordon taught her art class at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden on Wednesday, October 25, November 1, and November 8.  She holds classes there on a regular basis. Present at the October 25 class were Sylvie Salvi, Mary Dale Dalton, Sylvia Santos, Odie Carandang, Conni Gordon and yours truly, Manny Meland. 

	Manny displays his masterpiece with Conni Gordon

Conni has taught countless people her patented four-step instruction method to create a painting. That list includes former president Jimmy Carter, Hugh Downs, Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Larry King, etc., etc.

Although I attended the class to observe, Conni invited me to participate. I protested that I was not a painter and that words were my pastels. She insisted that I experience her technique. I'm glad that I relented. Conni cast her spell and we each produced a masterpiece.

	Cassie Winters self-portrait

Music in Beautiful Spaces

A lovely garden, a stunning art exhibit and breathtaking performance by the South Beach Chamber Ensemble was enough to make you swoon. That is what you were treated to if you were fortunate enough to attend this concert and art exhibit at the Botanical Garden.

A glass of wine served in the lobby was the piece de resistance.  The art exhibit by Cassie Winters explores landscapes, trees and flowers of the everglades.  Her works are displayed in many important galleries. Her paintings are widely collected.  Prince Edward of England has one of her pieces. We show here a self-portrait.

	The South Beach Chamber Ensemble

The concert opened with a piece by child prodigy J.C. Arriaga. He wrote a String Quartet #1in D Minor when he was 17 years old.  Water Music Suite by Handel closed out the first half of the program. The second part of the program had a pops attitude. The strings stirred us with Cole Porter’s Begin the Beguine followed by some romantic and moving tunes by Michel Legrand and by George Gershwin.  Thank you Miami Beach Botanical Garden for giving us a great late Sunday afternoon.