The MOST Amazing Rockmore Opening EVER happened this past weekend. Hundreds of folks descended on Lake Charles for three event filled days that we will not soon forget. Shirley Marvin was presented the Key to the City on Opening night by Mayor Randy Roach. The GEFQ (our Non Profit) recognized curators and administrators Carol Anne Gayle & Denise Fasske for inspiring and convincing us to make this event happen. We also recognized Nancy Roach, the Mayor's wife for helping Randy to serve the city of Lake Charles as Mayor for the last 14 years.

The Exhibition Hall

The opening talk was followed by drinks, gourmet food catered by Dan & the Pujo St. Cafe and lots of fun socializing with flashy blinky things and GREAT art. Then there was the walking tour & bar hopping through downtown Lake Charles ending with the Pitt Grill 1AM breakfast. Yes, Shirley was there for all the activity. Special Thanks to out of town guests Billy & Yvonne, Russ & Peter, Grover & Mike, Gus & Cali and all the out of town guests from near and far. 

The Opening Party

Saturday, we did the Museum again and were delighted that C. Delle Bates & his daughter DeLisa had made it in from Orange, Texas where C. Delle has his own studio. Then it was on to Candice Alexander's Art Studio where Rockmore fans were amazed by this gritty business savvy hometown Lake Charles Artist of the Year for the last 5 years. Candice is now an international art star and was humbled by our attention and recognition.   

The party continued at Pujo St. Cafe with a private room Exhibition of 35 Rockmores and a discussion of Rockmore moderated by Herschel Alan Weisfeld. Janet Shriver, a Phd from University of Texas, is presenting a paper on Rockmore, October 10th to the Gulf Coast Historical Association, "Watching a Master Rise to Greatness: The Genius of Noel Rockmore-the Picasso of New Orleans." Janet asked questions of everyone at the event and put Rockmore into an academic perspective. She then attended all remaining functions with iPad in hand documenting Rockmore.

The food & drinks flowed and at the conclusion of the event, Eugene & Patricia Dietz, Debra & Sheldon Weisfeld (Herschel's twin) and C. Delle & DeLisa Bates purchased 10 Rockmores between them. This helped pay for the entire event and will help us in the catalog and the two party events in October we will be hosting for The Phantasmagoric Art of Noel Rockmore Show on 2855 Magazine St. in New Orleans opening this Saturday.

The party then continued at The Presidential Suite on the 10th Floor of the Isle of Capri Resort hosted by Herschel Alan Weisfeld & Sheldon and Debra Weisfeld. They printed out last minute invites and provided the perfect meeting place with drinks & food over looking the lake. Sheldon & Debra won the BEST NEW Rockmore fans with their unbridled enthusiasm and willingness to keep the party going until the 1:30AM Chicken Soup breakfast at the Casino.

On Sunday, the remaining Rockmore group reconvened at The Luna Cafe where we recapped the weekend and watched a sad little Saints game. Then it was back to the Presidential Suite where a small group of party warriors closed out the weekend at 2:30AM. Yes, Shirley made all the events and was actually the star of the late night parties as well.

The Phantasmagoric Art of Noel Rockmore opens this Saturday September 13th at The Vic Loisel Modern Gallery at 2855 Magazine St. in New Orleans LA.  

Phantasmagoric definition: Having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination.

There will not be an opening party but Shirley, Rich & Tee will be there from 2-5PM this Saturday to greet you if you stop by. Then we say farewell as we return to Cape Cod to do the DOUBLE Catalog for both the Lake Charles & New Orleans Shows and plan the October Parties at The Vic Loisel Modern Gallery.

*NOTE - You can preorder and be recognized as a sponsor of this 60 Page Color Catalog. It is $20 a catalog and ordering by Wednesday Sept. 17th gets your name in it as a sponsor. Just email us NOW and say how many catalogs you would like! We will bill you when they come in and mail them out in early October. So far, it will be a run of 300 catalogs covering about 180 Rockmores from the two shows and summer sales to sponsors. If you loaned a work to the show, bought a Rockmore in the past 3 months or ordered a catalog in Lake Charles, you already have one reserved. (200 are spoken for already, order now!)   

October Parties for The Phantasmagoric Art of Noel Rockmore Show 

This is an open house night where everyone in New Orleans goes gallery hopping. We will not be back from Cape Cod but our dream is that Rockmore fans will step up to help Vic greet the many new potential Rockmore fans that will be checking it out. Hopefully, this will also be the debut night of the Catalog! 

Party #2 - Saturday October 25th -"Going Out in Style with Rockmore" - Private Party

This will be the Dress Up Halloween Style Party that will surpass all the parties we have already had. There will be some special guest we hope to honor, lots of food & drink and plenty of Rockmore Art and Interesting people dressed to have fun in style.

On a sad note, Malcolm Silverman, our family friend for 20 years from Cape Cod passed away this past Thursday. If you own a Rockmore Film DVD, Malcolm made that for you for Free. He also supplied the GEFQ with a laptop, cameras, monitors and free editing equipment from his business "Memories by Malcolm" that he and his wife Niki ran for 30 years. He taught Tee how to edit film and over the last 10 years was a part of our family events as our adopted Uncle from our temple. Our catalog for the two shows will be dedicated to Malcolm Silverman, thanks for all the Memories Malcolm, we would not be here without you and we loved having you as part of our family.

Next week we will head back to Cape Cod via Wake Forest University Homecoming to honor our roommate and co-Best man in our wedding, Mark Schurmeier, as the Theta Chi Fraternity makes a dedication to Mark. Mark was lost in Tower 1 on September 11th in a tragedy that has shaped our lives and you can be sure, We WILL NEVER FORGET!  

This Thursday, September 11th, we will celebrate the day with our son Tory on his birthday with our grandkids after we help Vic set up the Show in the Gallery. We hope you might come by from 2-5PM this Saturday to say hello and goodbye to us and Shirley at The Vic Loisel Modern Gallery at 2855 Magazine St. NOLA. 

That is Mark on the far right and Tory in white on the left at our wedding in Exuma Bahamas 28 years ago!

Take time to love the ones you are with because we never know what tomorrow may bring.