DATE: Friday, April 25, 1997                TAG: 9704230170
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY CAROLE O'KEEFFE, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   55 lines

AT ST. ANDREW'S METHODIST, MEMBERS SHARE ARTISTIC TALENTS BY SHOWING OFF THEIR MUSICAL TALENTS AND THEIR ARTWORKS, THEY SHARE THEIR HOBBIES.

For members of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, their Fine Arts Sunday amounted to more than just the sum of its parts.

Church members enjoyed fellow parishioners' artwork and performances, but they were most impressed by the amount of artistic ability in the congregation.

``It's amazing to me . . . all the talent we have,'' said Pastor Joseph G. Savinsky.

``Many gifts, one spirit,'' his wife, Carolyn, said. ``Each one of us has our special qualities, and when we share them . . .''

Phyllis Parron, a church member, said, ``There are so many people in our church, and most of them don't know about each other's talents."

They do now.

For some time, the worship committee has wanted ``to do something different,'' said JoAnn Barnes, who, with her husband, Wilson, led the event. ``Harriet Heath, our . . . organist and choir director, wanted to have a fine arts festival, and we began working on it in January.''

Some members were reluctant to participate at first, JoAnn Barnes said. They thought it would be a competition. ``We had to tell them it was just a sharing of our congregation during worship service and afterwards.''

About 60 people, including children from grades one through 12, participated last Sunday. Many of the younger artists made and displayed drawings and paintings, while others showed off their dancing and music skills. Piano, guitar and harp selections were played.

Adult members contributed carvings, paintings and other works.

Parron showed off washable leather and fur jackets, plus dolls and clothing she made for her granddaughters from pillowcases Parron's grandmother enhanced with fancy stitchery.

One particularly moving piece was painted by Evelyn Rotella, an artist who has shown at the Seawall Art Show, among others. Rotella, who once lived out West, was a volunteer with her church, helping Native Americans on reservations.

The painting shows a grandmother holding her granddaughter close. The expression on the woman face is one of pure joy.

Jackie Eure, a member of the Elizabeth River Artists group, has been painting for about 18 years. She had several of her watercolor flower paintings on display, including geranium and magnolia arrangements.

Other artists displayed their skills at fresh flower arranging.

Later in the day, church members shared a covered-dish dinner and watched a performance by drama troupe from Virginia Wesleyan College. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CAROLE O'KEEFFE

Allison Haskell played the piano during Fine Arts Sunday at St.

Andrew's United Methodist Church.

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