Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 148

Pagel 2 IRI1UY.MAY2L2004 The Arizona Republic SPOTLIGHT Oil paintings of a 'Russian girl' on display I2S By Curtis Grippe Special (of The Republic ti "1 0yykif- -VII J. At an age when most children are learning to write, Valley oil painter Elena Kohn had discovered another use for her pencils and pens, and with it a career path from which she has never strayed. "I wanted to be an artist from the very beginning," Kohn said. "From the time I was 3 years old, I would draw on anything and everything I could. "I became so excited about pencils, brushes, paint and anything that could help me create things that I had in my imagination." Kohn's oil paintings are on display at the West Valley Art Museum in Surprise.

Kohn, 35, was born in Leipzig, Germany, and was raised from the age of 3 in Moscow. Kohn's mother was a teacher and her father served for 30 years as the head of the Union of Artists, a government sponsored organization that sponsored and commissioned work from a roster of Russia's finest artists. Kohn's parents also were painters and kept company with many of Russia's most prominent dancers, musicians and visual artists. "I was very lucky to be exposed to that kind of culture at such an early age," she said. "I was always surrounded by great artists, and I studied under brilliant painters at Moscow Art University." Kohn earned her undergraduate and master's degrees in art from Moscow Art Univer- '-V u' 3 i miimm A A i.

itfa Kohn said one of her remedies for homesickness is a trip to Flagstaff. "If you ignore the buildings, the landscape and the snow reminds me of Russia," she said. "Some of the trees like the birch and aspens are similar to trees we have in Russia." The West Valley Art Museum is at 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise. The Elena Kohn exhibit is on display through July 14.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults and $2 for students with ID. WVAM members and children 5 and younger are free.

Information: www.wvam or call (623) 972-0635. Elena Kohn's Web site: www.elenafineart.com. rals and portraits and said that nature is her greatest inspiration. "When I go out and drive here in Arizona and I see the mountains and the sky, it inspires me. The sky is always changing colors," she said.

"And then sometimes I remember scenes from my childhood and the Russian countryside. No matter what I do here I am still a Russian girl. It's my heritage." Kohn said she starts some of her pieces with a sketch, and others she goes straight to the brush and paint. "Sometimes, I can visualize the painting and how it should look before I even start," she said. "Then all I have to do is project that image to the canvas." Kohn said she paints between five and six hours every day and shows her work about three times a year.

Elena Kohn Winter, 16x20 inch oil on canvas, and Red Roses in the Evening, 20x24 inch oil on canvas, by Elena Kohn. An exhibit of Kohn's works is on display through July 14 at the West Valley Art Museum is at 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise. Kohn said she favors landscapes, florals and portraits and that nature is her greatest inspiration. sity, but it was around that time that the Soviet Union collapsed.

Kohn decided to emigrate from her homeland. In 1992, she moved to Montgomery, where she taught art at Auburn University. A strong fascination with the Southwest led Kohn to Ari zona where she decided to make her home. She has a residence and studio in Scottsdale. While Kohn already was an accomplished artist before moving to America, she said that the change in scenery has definitely brought about changes in her approach to art.

"There is a big difference between the work I did in Russia and what I do now," she said. "Unconsciously, I started using different colors. It's not that I tried to do something different, it's just that my colors were brighter and more intense." Kohn favors landscapes, flo COMMUNITY CALENDAR nation suggested. The Three Wishes 11 a.m. The classic German tale about a woodcutter and his wife comes to life in this comic puppet version.

Sunrise Mountain Library, Presentation Room, 21200 N. 83rd Peoria. (623) 487-5150. Repeats at 1 p.m. May 29.

FRIDAY MAY 28 Free Friday Fun p.m. Bring some friends for an afternoon of fun and games. Velma Teague Branch Library, Meeting Room, 7010 N. 58th Glendale. (623) 930-3437.

The Three Wishes 9:30 and 11 a.m. The classic German tale about a woodcutter and his wife comes to life in this comic puppet version. Peoria Library, Willow Room, 8463 W. Monroe Peoria. (623) 773-7555.

brate Emergency Medical Week with paramedics, fire engines and ambulances on display. Free safety booklets, blood pressure checks, health information, Med-Kits and how to use them. Foothills Branch Library, 19055 N. 57th Glendale. Free.

Registration: (623) 930-3553. WEDNESDAY MAY 26 Toddler Water Day 9-11 a.m. A free morning of wet and wild water activities for toddlers ages 2-5 and a parent. Shoes or sandals must be worn no bare feet allowed. Sahuaro Ranch Park, 9802 N.

59th Glendale. (623) 930-2830. Westcor Kids Club 10 a.m. Club members X-amine the zoo. Arrowhead Towne Center, JCPenney Court, 75th Avenue and Bell Road, Glendale.

(623) 979-7777. will be open and include the usual theater fare. Free admission and parking. (623) 266-4500. Musical event 7 p.m.

Blake Lin-demann plays acoustic jazz and blues at Borders Books Music and Cafe, 10100 W. McDowell Road, Avondale. (623) 478-9880. Quick Craft Ages 6-12 can make a "popcorn tree" picture from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Velma Teague Branch Library, 7010 N.

58th Glendale. Materials provided. (623) 930-3437. SUNDAY MAY 23 Author appearance 2 p.m. Pe-nina Keen Spinka, author of Picture Maker and Dream Weaver.

Awards for the ninth annual Short Story Contest follow. Glendale Public Library, 5959 W. Brown Glendale. Open to the public. (623) 930-3750.

STUDENTS Struggles recognized From Page 1 strengths her sophomore year her intelligence and creativity. She has earned a 3.9 GPA and takes honors classes. She also serves as co-editor of the Mind's Eye, a districtwide student literary and art review. Van Thuy Duong of Iron-wood High is a Vietnamese immigrant who came to the United States when she was 4 years old. She conducted the Distinguished Scholar Project, a 2VS-year research project by observing the mental development of children through adulthood and their reactions to different environments.

She is ranked fifth in her class. Farooq Kherals of Iron-wood High has attained many of his goals despite tragedy and hardship. His mother died when he was in seventh grade. He has focused on being successful and has excelled academically and in athletics. Rachel Poe of Centennial High has Turner's syndrome and has overcome a difficult stuttering problem.

In addition, she is dealing with the loss of her mother and grandfather, both of whom died during her junior year in high school. She still maintains a high GPA, participates in Centennial's drama productions and serves as the assistant student director. Anthony King of Centennial has risen above a learning disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. With encouragement from his teachers and parents, he began to embrace the goal of becoming one of the few in his family to graduate from high school and the first to go on to college. Santiago Rotas of Sunrise Mountain drives 45 minutes each day from Wittmann to school.

He wakes up at 4 a.m. to do chores on the family farm, then attends his classes and takes part in baseball practice and related games. He often works until midnight at his after-school job at a local restaurant to help earn money for his family. Tal Centra cchio of Sunrise Mountain has Tourette's syndrome, which causes her to have uncontrollable motor and vocal ticks. She also has battled depression and an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

She works in the COOP preschool program at Sunrise Mountain, where she has become a favorite among the 4-year-olds. TODAY MAY 21 Godspell 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 29 and 2 p.m. Sundays this weekend and next. Godspell is the celebration of the Gospel as told by St.

Matthew. Theater Works, 10484 W. Thunderbird Sun City. $21 adults; $19 seniors and $15 stu- dents. Box office: (623) 815-7930 SATURDAY MAY 22 Arizona Safe Boating Celebration 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

The focus is on boat and water safety. Exhibits and displays will educate the public about safety issues. Lake Pleasant Regional Park, east parking lot at the 10-lane boat ramp, 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Road, Morristown. (602) 372-7460.

Grooms Creek Hike Registration is due by today for an 8 a.m.-5 p.m. hike May 29 in the Prescott National Forest. Meet at Avondale City Hall in the Avon-dale Civic Center, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive. $23 for Avondale residents; $28 for non-residents.

Registration: (623) 478-3053. Movie Under the Stars 6 p.m. Popcorn and movies replace hot dogs and baseball at the Surprise Stadium, 15850 N. Bullard Ave. Moviegoers will see a double feature of first-run family flicks projected on the Jum-botron.

Stadium concessions SATURDAY MAY 29 Discovery Walk 10 a.m. A 90-minute interpretive desert walk to celebrate national trails day. The walk will be followed by a "Harvest of the Desert" program at noon in the community's Mountain Vista Club. At the Discovery Trail at the new community of Vistancia, 29701 N. Sunrise Point, Peoria.

(Lake Pleasant Parkway north to Happy Valley Road. West on Vistancia Boulevard and follow the signs.) Free. (623) 933-6233. MONDAY MAY 24 After School Craft 4-5 p.m. Crafty, creative kids make fun, silly and sometimes messy projects after school.

Litchfield Park Branch Library, 101 W. Wigwam Blvd. Registration: (623) 935-4118. TUESDAY MAY 25 EMS Day 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Cele- THURSDAY MAY 27 Peoria's Performances 7 p.m.

"Music through the Decades" features the Langham Dance Center, showcasing current hits in the final performance of the series. Peoria City Hall Amphitheater, 8401 W. Monroe St. (623) 773-7198. Stardust Theater 7 p.m.

Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe stars in There's No Business Like Show Business. Kuentz Recreation Center, 14401 R.H. Johnson Sun City West. $2 do- HOW TO REACH US West Valley Community 17235 N. 75th Suite A-100 Glendale, AZ 85308 Fax: (623) 412-9577 E-mail: nw.newsarizonarepublic.com General news number: (602) 444-6935 KIDNAPPED Mother's hope waits West Valley city editor: Venita Hawthorne James Assistant city editorcommunity: Laurie Merrill Assistant city editor: Vinton Supplee West Valley educational issues: Nora Fascenelli Maggie Gatehouse Monica Mendoza Glendale, El Mirage: Monica Dunsmoor Peoria, general assignment: Charles Kelly Police, fire, traffic: Brent Whiting Public money Arizona Cardinals stadiumPhoenix Coyotes arena: Pat Flannery Southwest Valley Communites Avondale.Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Tolleson: Marty Sauerzopf Surprise, Luke Air Force Base: David Madrid West Valley co-ordinator of the editorial pages: Joel Nilsson Sports editor Tom Blodgett West Valley sports: Jose Garcia Photo coordinator: Michael Ging Calendar items, entertainment: Chief news assistant Marilyn Reid, (602) 444-6917 News assistant: Brenda Windahl doesn't lessen the pain for her parents, Roberts said.

Sgt. Kelly Shore, an Avon-dale police supervisor, said the case remains on the active files, but new leads are few. Two years ago, the National Center for Missing Exploited Children released an age-progression composite showing what Jacqueline may have looked like at 18 months old. The drawing was based on the girl's photo and her sister's photo at the same age. Currently, the National Center, a group based in Alexandria, maintains a list of 57 Arizona children, including Jacqueline, who are missing.

The oldest case involves Dorothy Clitheroe, a 14-year- -old Phoenix girl who vanished in 1973. She would be 44 today. Reach the reporter at brent.whrting arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6937. Nayeli, her daughter, then 2. When she stepped back outside, after just a moment, Jacqueline, who had been in a baby carrier, was gone.

Sgt. Chris Medaglia, now an Avondale police spokesman, was among the first officers who arrived at the scene to assist the frantic mother. "We had officers on foot checking throughout the swap meet," Medaglia said earlier this week. "It was definitely a very emotional day." Police later released a composite drawing of a woman they said they would like to find and question. They said witnesses related that the woman had been seen showing undue attention to children at the swap meet.

Sgt. Mary Roberts, a supervisor in the Phoenix police missing-children detail, said that based on the evidence, Jacqueline likely was grabbed by a woman who wanted a child of her own to raise. The intent wasn't to harm the little girl, so Jacqueline is probably still alive, but that From Page 1 Castefiada said she remains busy caring for an older daughter, Nayeli Vasquez, 5, and a baby son, Jesus Vasquez, who was born last Oct. 21. Dr.

Steven Pitt, a forensic psychiatrist in Scottsdale, said losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare, and parents need to remain hopeful of being reunited some day. But that needs to be balanced with the reality that the longer a child goes missing, the less chance there is for an eventual recovery, Pitt said. "That said, there are no hard and fast rules," Pitt said. "You just have to look at the facts of each case on their Jacqueline Vasquez at 4 months old, just one month before she was taken. own." Jacqueline vanished at a swap meet near 123rd Avenue and Buckeye Road in Avondale.

Castefiada had been dropped off there by her husband, Jorge Vasquez, then 21. The abduction happened when Castefiada stepped into a portable toilet to help All e-mail addresses: firstname.lastnameaarizonarepublic.com Display ads: (602) 444-7100 Classified ads: (602) 444-7355 To subscribecirculation: (602) 444-1000 Published Wednesday, Friday and Saturday www.community.azcentral.com 1.