Mark Simonds Scholarship Fund Art Sale

What is this auction all about? It’s kind of a Four-Legged Stool!

Leg One: Mark Simonds

Mark Simonds has been doing all sorts of things for the museum since early 2000. He and his wife Carolyn moved to Grants Pass in the late 1990s to retire and build their home. Mark had electronics consulting firm and was a computer design engineer in Southern California. He originally became involved with the Western Welcome Newcomers of Josephine County and became president in 2002-2003. He worked with RASCAL as a database designer, group lecturer, and a class instruction. He got involved with the museum in 2002 when he joined the board. He became board president from 2004 until 2009. In additional to being a board member, he created the original website, newsletter, and worked on the facilities. He presently works in the exhibition department as a curator and on exhibit installation. He also created the museum’s endowment fund, built the original data base, and sponsors an exhibit each year. He enjoys being married to Carolyn, has one daughter and grandson living in Colorado, has fun dancing, and enjoys the company and dining with two dinner groups. He works out by walking and chopping wood for his wood stove and the maintenance
of his forest. He creates art with wood, paper mâché, and metal. He loves to travel and enjoys the symphony and many of the theater companies in Southern Oregon.

Leg Two: Steve and Ted

And why have they donated all of their art to the museum?
Steve and Ted are two people who shared 47 years of their lives together. One of their hobbies was to purchase art. When they were young, they lived in the Bay Area and spent many hours at the Berryessa Flea Market in San Jose. They also visited estate sales and galleries.
They moved to Oregon and built a home in Cave Junction in 2006. Eventually, they moved to Grants Pass where they enjoyed the art they had collected. After 2016, they inherited some funds that allowed them to check out online auctions. From January 2016 until Ted passed away, they would turn on the auctions at 4pm Pacific Time and watch (and bid) until 9pm Pacific Time. The auctions were on the East coast and closed at midnight.
When Ted was young, he wanted to attend College and specifically wanted to study art. His family told him if he wanted to do that he should join the military and get his education through the GI Bill. He enlisted and became a Hospital Corpsman in Guam in 1966. He was like “Doc” on Mash. When he returned from the military, he worked in the El Camino Hospital and eventually got a degree in Histology. He never really pursued the art he had dreamed of doing. Steve was the manager of transportation at the San Jose Unified School District.
SO….they decided to eventually donate their art collection to an institution so it could be sold and the money used for scholarships for people wanting to learn and study the arts. A neighbor of Steve’s heard about this and suggested contacting the Grants Pass Museum of Art.
And that is why we are having this exhibit/fundraiser/auction!

Leg Three: The Redwood Foundation

The Redwood Foundation for Education provides scholarships and grants to students in schools throughout Southern Oregon. Awards are based on demonstrated leadership and co-curricular activities, academics and need, and are funded by donations from individuals, businesses, service clubs and class alumni. Founded in 1964 as the Josephine County Educational Fund, Inc. (JCEF), in 2022, after more than five decades of growth, the organization changed its name to recognize its expanded service area and scope. Today, the Redwood Foundation for Education manages 250 individual funds and more than $8 million in assets.

Leg Four: Scholarship Recipients

The scholarships are meant for people of any age to benefit from help in obtaining education about art. While there will be an emphasis on visual art, other forms of art could be included. Scholarship applications will be reviewed quarterly.
Some examples of who will benefit:
An 18 year old graduate from a Southern Oregon High School wanting to have a career in Fashion Design. They have applied and been accepted but do not have all of the money for tuition.
An 8 year old prodigy in music who has been accepted to appear at Julliard for an audition but doesn’t have the plane fare to get there.
A 40 year old who has raised their children and wants to begin a career in metal sculpture and needs tuition money to attend Rogue Community College welding classes.
A 60 year old grandma who has always wanted to paint but never had the time. Her husband just passed away and now it is time for her to spread her wings. She needs money to attend SOU's art program.
A nurse who wants to retire and develop a program for art therapy for dementia patients but needs help in expanding her knowledge. There are classes available but she needs tuition money to attend.
An English major with a BS from the University of Oregon. What he really wants to do is become an animator. He needs money to follow this career path.

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