Light in the Grove
by Carlin Holden
Over 500 people celebrated the Grove’s twentieth anniversary at the second iteration of Light in the Grove on Nov 30. 2011. Franco Beneduce Productions and Jesse Dimond Design, the producer and designer of the event respectively, took a creative step up from their inaugural presentation in 2010.
The variety of light effects and dancing sprites evolved this year into a singular, elegant vision. The fountain of candles in the Circle of Friends led to a river of candles. These and Inflated light globes softly lit the entire Redwood Grove. The classical cello of Dan Reiter seemed to come from as many sources as the candlelight.
Copious Dance Theater interpreted the spirit of the Redwoods in front of a projection of flying birds. Under the protection of a 7,400-square-foot clear and heated tent, the celebration continued with food from Daniel Ripley Catering and music from harpist Natalie Cox. The program began with the entrance of a piper in full Scots kilt leading Grove Executive Director John Cunningham.
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Last year’s honoree, Pat Christen, introduced Ambassador James C. Hormel. Ambassador Hormel was honored for his many contributions to the LGBT community, and especially for his support of the community response in the early days of the epidemic. It was also Ambassador Hormel who hosted the first event to raise seed money for the Grove when it was just the vision of a few people. Meg McKay sang a moving song, My Brother Lived in San Francisco, evocative of the days here thirty years ago.
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This led into a finale on the south slope outside the tent by the San Francisco Flaggers. Spotlights first showed three individuals moving slowly to somber music. The music gradually became more energized and the lights came up to reveal more than a dozen performers on the slope.
Over twenty years, the Grove has been fortunate in a great many ways – friends, supporters, volunteers. Over the 36-hour period of our two events, the forecasted wind event which wreaked havoc in several parts of the state did not visit the Grove.
