An idyllic blue-sky afternoon and the golden hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains set the mood for this year’s highly successful ARTFUL HARVEST. Held on October 19, 2008 and set amidst the dramatic natural landscape of the Program’s rustic ranch property, the dinner and silent auction was attended by 150 guests in the twelve-sided Artists’ Barn, which features expansive glass doors that open to spectacular views of the Pacific coastline and the surrounding countryside.

The five-course Harvest Supper, created and prepared by Chefs Mark Sullivan and Dmitry Elperin of Spruce and the Village Pub, featured just-picked organic produce from Dale Djerassi’s SMIP Ranch Farm and was accompanied by wines from Ridge Vineyards and Groth Vineyards and Winery. A dazzling dessert buffet was served with champagne to toast the stellar sunset as it radiated over the hills.

A highlight of the event was a performance by internationally recognized composer, vocalist and sound artist Pamela Z, who performed original multimedia works using electronics and voice. Another highlight was a poetry reading by Djerassi alumnus
Al Young, former Poet Laureate of California. Artworks by Djerassi Program alumni artists and notable friends, as well as art packages from Bay Area museums, theaters and performing arts organizations were sold in the silent auction. Major bidders won pieces by Judy Dater, Mauro Staccioli, Nathan Oliveira, David Nash, and many more! 

After remarks about the founding of the Djerassi Program by his father, Dr. Carl Djerassi, in memory of his sister, artist and poet Pamela, Dale Djerassi, Artful Harvest Circle Chair and a founding Trustee of the Program, instigated a spontaneous live auction of one of his favorite T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Barack (Who’s Sane?) Obama,” that he picked up on a trip to New York. Bidding was highly active and the lucky winner was none other than Dale Djerassi – who just couldn’t bear to give up one his favorites!  

Proceeds from ARTFUL HARVEST support the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, whose Mission is to support and enhance the creativity of artists by providing uninterrupted time for work, reflection and collegial interaction in a setting of great natural beauty, and to preserve the land upon which the Program is situated. Now in its 30th year, the Program, which has underwritten 1,800 residencies for artists of every creative discipline from around the world, stimulates the vitality of our culture and enhances the quality of our lives by supporting the visionary work of our artists.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these lists, please contact the Development Office at (650) 747-1250 ext. 13 with any changes or additions.

2008 Harvest Circle
Anonymous (2)
Johanna K. and Thomas R. Baruch
Susie and Mark Buell
John and Sue Diekman
Dale Djerassi
Boris Dramov and Bonnie Fisher
Larry Goldfarb
Kay Sprinkel Grace
Liz and Tom King
Laura Kline and Michael Lazarus
Jack Loftis and Vibeke Strand
James and Suzanne McElwee
Leonard R. Perillo
Amy Rao
Lava Thomas* and Peter Danzig
Katherine and David Thomson
Neil and Pegi Young

2008 Artful Harvest Silent Auction Donors
Allegro Framing and Art
Linda Mieko Allen*
American Conservatory Theater
Asian Art Museum
Mari J. Andrews*
Ballet San Jose
Johanna K. Baruch
Ciel Bergman*
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Jamie Brunson*
Buck’s of Woodside
Robert Buelteman*
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for the Arts
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Judy Dater*
Jessica Dunne*
Emily Joubert Home and Garden
Exploratorium
John Fago*
Alex Foreman*
Patricia Tobacco Forrester*
Jan Gauthier*
Dixie Friend Gay*
Eugene Gloria*
Brian Goggin*
Roald Hoffmann*
Ann Hogle
Michelle Jaffe*
Mike Jussila
Michiko Kameda*
Aaron Karp*
Vesta Kirby*
Lynn Koble*
Doo-Hyoun Kwon*
Therese Lahaie*
Ligorano/Reese*
Magic Theatre
Michelle P. Mansour*
John McCormick*
Alison Moritsugu*
Kenna Moser*
Montalvo Arts Center
Museum of the African Diaspora
David Nash*
New Century Chamber Orchestra
Oakland Museum of California
Alex O’Neal*
Nathan Oliveira
Sarah Perry*
Juan Carlos Quintana*
Robert’s, A Town Marketplace
San Francisco Film Society
San Jose Chamber Orchestra
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
San Jose Museum of Art
San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
SF Camera Work
SFMOMA
Kathryn Spence*
Spruce Restaurant
Mauro Staccioli*
Louise Stanley*
Lava Thomas*
TheatreWorks
Triton Museum of Art
Ann Weber*
Woodside Bakery and Café
The Woodside Tennis Shop
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Al Young*

2008 Artful Harvest In-Kind Donors
Tim Ballengee and Chris Fontan
Peggy Burke & 1185 Design
Jason Chan 
Sue Diekman
Dale Djerassi and Kristi Spierling, SMIP Ranch Produce
Dmitry Elperin
Skip and Maryanne Gianocca
Groth Vineyards and Winery
Liz King
Colin Kluck
Jack Loftis and Vibeke Strand
Ridge Vineyards
Tim Stannard, Village Pub and Spruce restaurants
Mark Sullivan
Lava Thomas*

*Artist-Alumni

                                         the gift of time