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Lissa Reynolds, founder of the South Pasadena Arts Council, or SPARC, wants to remember a pair of key contributors to the city float in the Rose Parade in a unique and special way.
Reynolds, who is also the managing director of the Fremont Centre Theatre in the city, made a pitch at last week’s South Pasadena Tournament of Roses meeting to prepare and hang an exhibit in remembrance of the late Paul Abbey and Ted Shaw, who together donated countless hours to the float over the years. Award-winning float photos through the years would be placed in the lobby of the City Council Chambers, along with a South Pasadena Tournament of Roses logo and information about SPTOR history.
The exhibit would recognize the achievement of the two men who were major contributors to the float’s success over the years.
The South Pasadena Tournament of Roses is the longest continuing art project in South Pasadena and this location would give the history of the SPTOR public visibility.
With SPTOR’s approval of the display, Reynolds said SPARC will absorb any costs for installment, including paint, cleaning frames, creating, hanging and mounting of the exhibit.
Committee members did not take a vote on the item that wasn’t part of the agenda, but the organization’s president Brant Dunlap said he wasn’t sure why it wouldn’t receive the go-ahead by the SPTOR members in the near future.
“We look forward to working with SPTOR and appreciate all the time, effort, and volunteers that make this annual ‘FLOATing’” piece of art possible, Reynolds said during the public comment portion of the meeting.
She’s looking forward to working with the SPTOR and paying tribute to Abbey and Shaw.
The city’s entry in 2020 Rose Parade – “Victory at Last” – earned the Mayor Award. In 2019, “Three Little Birds” captured the same award.
“Bravo to your recent award-winning float,” said a smiling Reynolds.
