Letter of Nomination:
To Whom It May Concern,
I have known Marge Corman for over 25 years and have been enriched as our community has by her artistic ability, her love of song, her spontaneous, fun loving spirit and her strength throughout her life.
She has a marvelous sense of humor and knows how to laugh at herself and also tell a good story to make others laugh. I have been blessed by her involvement in The Children's Musical Theatre over the years. Her artistic creativity has produced some of the most incredible scenes and creatures. The one that comes to mind most vividly is the judge dragon she created for the late 1970' production of "The Castle on Withee Hill". It was a magnificent dragon that spanned many feet and looked grand on the stage. No job was impossible for Marge. She took on projects great and small and even had a singing part in one of the productions.
If you want to break into a birthday son, Christmas carol or whatever, Marge is ready in operatic form and such fun to sing with! Recently, she was instrumental in a music endeavor of getting three people in Ellensburg together who are relatively new harpists. As a result of her extra effort to introduce us, we had our first "harp circle" of playing music together this March.
Marge has a special place in my heart and hearth every Christmas as we have added her wonderful angels, cats and birds to our manger scene. Her Santas grace Christmas displays in many homes. She helped my sister with Santa inventory for her shop in Minnesota when she was just starting out. Marge has encouraged new endeavors for many others in artistic ways and with a loving spirit. Her own exquisite paintings and sculpted creations are such art treasures.
I highly recommend her for the City Art Treasure award. Thank you for considering her.
Sincerely and with fondness,
– Laurae Y. Lygre
Letter of Nomination:
MONDAYS AND OTHER DAYS WITH MARGE CORMAN
My memories may be a little scattered here, as I'm traveling back several years here, but I must have met Marge Corman when I was ten years old, when I met so many artistic people through my initial association with Children's Musical Theatre of Ellensburg. Marge had the title role in CMT's third production titled "Day of Sophia." Marge/Sophia was a mystical, magical woman who transformed a bratty little girl into a frog!
Marge believed in using your imagination and finding creative outlets to express it. During my Junior High School years, Jim Prater and I would go to Marge's house one afternoon a week for exercises in "creative, imaginative expression. You could call these afternoon "Mondays With Marge." We would just work on whatever interested us at the time; these included music and puppets; shadow puppets, and some more elaborate puppets made out of old nylons and whatever fabrics or materials Marge had around her house. I recall we also made up a radio play called "The Purple Terror." We never wrote it down, but The Purple Terror was some magical, purple mist or spray that a Wicked Witch used to immobilize two boys and trap them in her dungeon. The Witch had also transformed a beautiful Princess into a cat. The boys rescued the cat-Princess and defeated The Witch. Marge played the Witch, and she was wonderfully wicked!
Marge also played The Witch, in full costume, for several consecutive years on Halloween. Marge had her house totally decorated for the Halloween Holiday. Trick or Treaters could never stay outside of her door. No, that wasn't allowed! You had to take the total tour, including jot apple cider and whatever spooky treats Marge had prepared. The deal was: No tour, no candy.
Halloween was the best, but I recall one Christmas that was very special. Jim, Marge, and I did some staged readings, including an abridgement of Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol", for our families and friends. This was followed by holiday dinner. I remember Marge's mother being there and sweetly asking, "Can I watch Margie?"
I have very happy memories of my Mondays and other days with Marge Corman.
Sincerely,
Dewey Mee
Letter of Nomination:
To: Committee for nominating Marge Corman for City Art Treasure
I first met Marge about ten years ago at the fairgrounds when a lot of us were painting mock up store fronts for CWU's ethnic food celebration. It was only a few days after that that she came up to Roslyn with her camera and to paint local scenes with me. Since then we have gone out many times with our cameras and painting gear for wonderful times. She has been a tremendous source of inspiration to me and encouragement. I have heard many other artists voice the same feelings about her.
Marge has been responsible for gathering us into her home to paint still life's in her kitchen; to go to the mountains, to paint in the local parks, to paint in the Japanese Garden on the university campus, to get involved in Paint Ellensburg. The list of her art involvements goes on and on. If she isn't painting watercolors, she is sculpting out in her little backyard studio which she calls "the depot." When a new art project looms on the horizon, she gets as excited as a child with a brand new toy. She supports other artists by encouraging their efforts. She doesn't miss an art exhibit if she can get to it. About five years ago I had my first show at the Burien Art Gallery over in Burien. When I drove to the gallery about noon on the day the show opened, there were Marge and Wes already there and with flowers!!! I will never forget that.
If there is an art treasure in Ellensburg, it has to be Marge Corman for the years she has devoted to the art scene in the city and for her own paintings and sculpture which are exquisite. Collectors in the area eagerly buy the Santas she sculpts each year and the little angels. She is a careful painter, bending over her easel or table with total love and concentration. Her watercolors are wonderful. Her home reflects her life as an artist with paintings, sculptures and tiles everywhere.
– Bonnie Allen
Letter of Nomination:
Marge Corman is my nominee for city art treasure of Ellensburg 2004
When speaking of Marge one automatically thinks creativity. Any media she uses becomes an artistic form... whether it be oil or water color painting, clay, ceramic, fabric or wood, Marge does her magic and it will become a piece of art.
My personal discovery of her talents (some twenty years ago) brings to mind her remarkable building of back drops (drapes) for the Children's Musical Theater play. The backdrops set the place and mood of the play and is a vital key to a successful production. Be it either street scene or hillside terrain Marge always comes up with the right look. Starting with the directors ideas Marge makes her basic sketch gets it approved and goes to work. She may use brushes, roller brush, or spray can for the beginning of the scene. Then with a line here or a shading done nearby it is ready to set the scene of the play. She has done this over and over for the programs.
Marge is an inspirational art instructor using varied forms, and has spearheaded many artistic tasks.
Thankfully she has been and is still sharing her talents with the city of Ellensburg and its peoples.
– Betty Kelley
Letter of Nomination:
Marge is my Nominee for Ellensburg's 2004 City Art Treasure
Working on any project with Marge Corman is a joy and pleasure. She is so alive and interesting. You are allowed to share the creation of something interesting and different. She is an artist and willing to user her talents in so many ways that I am nominating her for the honor of being a City Art Treasure.
She is a valued member of the volunteers that make the frontier Village of the Kittitas County Fairgrounds come alive during the annual Fair. She also used her talent as an artist to create a novel and attractive postcard showing the Hunt General Store that is a valued momento of the Village.
As a Director of the Fair I consider her unique and a treasure that I am glad to share with the many visitors to the Frontier Village.
– Marvin Kelley