This year’s Pelham Art Center fall fundraiser brought art lovers and community members back to the lively, colorful 1980s on Nov. 4. The art center embraced the decade with art, food, music, dancing, an auction and a raffle.

Studio Cafe is one of the center’s two annual fundraiser events. It was created in the 1990s by then Executive Director Alison Paul because she wanted to do something fun and art-focused.

Studio Cafe took on special significance this year after the passing of Pelham Art Center Executive Director Charlotte Mouquin. The event featured a one-night-only solo exhibition of Mouquin’s paintings and a celebration of her enthusiasm, creativity and love of a great party.

“Well, my daughter Charlotte knew how to party; she loved celebrations and embraced life with enthusiasm,” said PJ, Mouquin’s mother, during the speech she gave about her daughter’s life, “From the time she was born, she was surrounded by art. As a toddler, she had a little easel in the kitchen were she enjoyed making art. One day she vowed she would be an artist.”

By the end of the speech, everyone was clapping, and some were crying. Everyone in the room missed Charlotte Mouquin.

“Charlotte’s spirit really parades in everything we do,” said Julia Fuller, one of the co-chairs for the event. “Charlotte was such an important thriving force here, and I think everyone in Pelham knew her because she was such a fireball of creativity, and she was such a community builder. Studio Cafe is meant to be very casual and creative, with the emphasis on the art and on that kind of creativity and art making. Charlotte really believed that the world needed more art and that everybody can and should make art and that is the main focus here. Everything we are doing here tonight is really going to be a tribute to her and it feels very meaningful.”

Rosemary Maggiore, Nancy Mazzei, KD Wilson and Fuller co-chaired the event. The host committee included Estee Cross, Danielle DeVito, Brenda Harms, Paula McKeever, Joanne Pacia-Ferrara, Rebecca Scott and Michele Westrick.

“We definitely need more art in our lives and that’s why the art center is important to the community and that’s why these kinds of events raise awareness but are fun at the same time,” said Fuller.

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