Student artists, patrons >>>> Pay it Forward
By Marli Guzzetta Independent Arts Editor
It's working. The idea Pamela Pindell and Casey Sayre Boukus implemented to honor their late daughter and sister, Rebecca, is in its second year, and the interest is growing.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Pam Pindell and senior Lindsey Goodwin

Sayre was a 1994 Nantucket High School graduate and alum of the Art Students League in New York. She was working in the Nantucket public school system when she passed away unexpectedly in 2003. Sayre's family established a fund in her honor and asked for donations in lieu of flowers. The money goes toward a year-end show at Nantucket Elementary School. The show utilizes any and every artistic talent - from the acting to the art for the set - of the 60 kids who participate.

Last year, Pindell, a Nantucket artist, organized an art exhibit, with works made by upwards of 40 Nantucket High School students, to replenish the art fund. Held at Pindell's home, the show invites patrons to pay $100 in exchange for one work of art in the show. High school culinary students also cater the party, with ingredients donated by Annye Camara of Annye's Whole Foods.

"My sister had always from a very young age loved children and the arts," Boukus said.

"So this has been a nice way to keep Rebecca's spirit alive," added Pindell, who visits the high school's art classes in the spring to invite them to participate in the event.

Pindell named it "Pay it Forward," after the Helen Hunt movie about doing a good deed for someone with no condition other than the person return the good favor upon someone else, and so on.

The event is by invitation only, because Pindell holds it at her home and because the number of students who participate is limited.

For some students, it's the first time they've seen their works hung in an exhibit. (Some of the students resubmit pieces they've shown at the Artists' Association of Nantucket's student show.)

"I try to display the work in a way that makes each individual piece stand out," said Pindell, who hangs all the pieces herself in her home. "I already have all the holes in my wall. I just ditch my paintings." Pindell also produces 8" x 10" glossies of each artwork for the students to use in their portfolios.

She said last year's patrons have stopped her all over town to tell her how much they enjoy their pieces.

"Kathleen Knight of the Gallery at Four India has a two-foot ceramic rabbit in her house from last year's show and she adores it. Peter Greenhalgh has a piece that he loves," Pindell said. "It's so cool for me to go there this year and say, 'I saw Nicole Michetti's photo at so-and-so's house.'"

Sayre's mother added that she doesn't put any pressure on the students, many of whom, this year, did not know Rebecca. Still, that didn't dampen their motivation to be involved in the good cause, whose meaning has now begun to transcend being an immediate memorial for Rebecca. Pindell said that this bodes well for the event's long-term success.

"This year, the kids seemed to be very serious about it, right off the bat, because they'd heard about it when they were underclassmen, and partially because we lost a student this winter," Pindell said. "So they wanted to be a part of a memorial that pays

back the community in any way." I

For more information or to contribute to the fund, please call Pam Pindell at 228-8468.