Summer is high nuptials season, but a few local wedding professionals took time out last week to help make one bride’s dreams come true.
Working through the Children’s Cancer Association and Signature Weddings & Events, Portland resident
Phoebe Mattera, who has cystic fibrosis, was married to Morgan May on Aug. 9 at Alderbrook Park Resort in Brush Prairie. Several Clark County wedding industry insiders donated their services for the ceremony and reception.
Cherie Ronning, 62, of Vancouver, owner of Uncommon Invites and creator of the Portland-based Wedding Lounge and the website weddingnetworkusa.com, provided printed invitations and menus for the wedding at no cost.
Amy and JP Prutch, both 50, of AJ’s Studio in Vancouver, donated photography services.
Rod Nylund, 47, and David Becker, 50, co-owners of Alderbrook Park Resort, donated the use of their venue for the event.
“They’re a nice young couple, and it seemed like the right thing to do,” Nylund said.
Amy Prutch concurred.
“It was wonderful. Very touching,” she said.
Student work inspires teacher for exhibit
Kathi Rick, in addition to her duties as gallery director at downtown Vancouver’s North Bank Artists Gallery, has been teaching for more than 20 years.
This past spring, she taught a pair of classes that inspired her to invite 22 students to exhibit their work on the gallery’s walls.
Rick, 52, taught a digital art class at Marylhurst University and a digital photography class at Portland Community College’s Sylvania campus.
Going into the classes, she didn’t expect to find the gallery’s current exhibit in the students’ works.
But Rick, who lives in Camas, knew she was working with a special group of students. “They were just so inspired by each other’s work,” Rick said. “They were awesome.”
Early on, she approached the students about displaying their work at the gallery. It didn’t take long for them to get excited about the idea. The resulting works are on display at the gallery through Aug. 31.
“They were very excited,” she said. “I love that feeling of camaraderie that you get in the classroom.”
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