Project Beautifies Site and Benefits Library

When the Parkway Calabasas shopping center was undergoing a face-lift a few months ago, the owners of the Clay Cafe, a do-it-yourself pottery and ceramics studio, decided to spruce up the landscaping in front of their store by creating a modern sculpture in an ordinary plant bed.

While they were at it, they devised a plan to get the community involved and help out a neighbor, the Calabasas branch library.

The result of their efforts was the transformation of the plant bed into “Ceramic Garden” and the donation of more than $6,000 to the Friends of the Calabasas library.

“The center was being remodeled anyway, and we thought, what better way [to remodel] than to redo the planter box with work from the community?” said Clarice Gerstel, who along with husband Marc owns the Clay Cafe.

As a fund-raiser, the Gerstels collected sponsorships for the tiles used in creating the sculpture. Those who purchased the tiles were allowed to paint them according to their liking. The funds were donated to the library.

Community library manager Sheila Hein said the donation will be used to purchase CD-ROMs for the branch’s computers as well as increase the materials available for children.

“This was a tremendous help,” she said.

In all, 700 colorfully painted tiles form a ring around a planter holding a sculpture made of pottery pieces and old pottery.

Round Meadow Elementary School students got involved when Marc Gerstel, “the pottery man,” talked about the fund-raiser during an enrichment class he teaches after school. The student council took it up as one of its many community projects this year and helped raise nearly half the donation.

Bobbie Horwitz, a student council advisor, said nearly 80% of the 600-student population paid $10 each to create tiles used in the sculpture.

“The kids really felt like they contributed,” Horwitz said. “And the greatest thing is they can go out and see their tile when they go to the library.”