The theme was Shakespeare, it was an art show and the venue was the Berman Museum. Three very good things.

From oil paintings to blown glass, 39 original works of art by Alabama artists were on display in the lobby of the Berman on the weekend of Feb. 4 in an exhibit that celebrated the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s 25th anniversary in Montgomery. The art, valued from a modest $350 to $24,000, is up for auction as a fundraiser for the festival. Online bids will be taken until April 20, and the final bidding will take place during a gala auction in Montgomery on April 25.

It was fitting that the exhibit, which will travel to Mobile, Birmingham, Huntsville and finally Montgomery, began its travels in Anniston, as the festival originated here in 1972 before moving to its designated theater in the capital city in 1985.

Sponsors for the Anniston exhibit were three members of the founding board, Josephine Ayers, Juliette Doster and Rita Springer, joined by Patty King, Betty McGinnis, Jean Ann Oglesby, Brenda Roberts, Jean Weatherly and Denise Webb.

The ladies were also the hostesses of a patron’s fundraiser on Thursday evening prior to the public opening of the exhibition. Despite one of this winter’s not infrequent ice events, the silent auction and cocktail hour reception were a delight and a success.

The dramatic and varied artworks filled the lobby, and a cozy anteroom featured an “artful” arrangement of hors d’oeuvres, including shrimp and tiny sandwiches. They were prepared by the cadre of hostesses and presented on a round table in the middle of the room, making for an easy conversational flow.

You may view and bid on the Shakespeare-inspired artworks at masterpieces.asf.net.

To share your news with Small Talk, contact Annette Maddox at starsmalltalk@yahoo.com.

Save the date

Drive it like you mean it at the annual Austin Joplin Memorial Education Fund golf tournament April 9 at Cane Creek Golf Course. Benefiting two athletic scholarships at Weaver High School and supporting Weaver Elementary school, this tourney will be a scramble, and will offer plenty of action and great door prizes. The Alabama Kudzu Queens will be on hand, snapping photos, selling mulligans and providing assistance where needed. Entry fee is $50 per person (includes green fees, carts and range balls); register at Cane Creek by April 7.  Tee time is 8 a.m.  For more information, call 256-217-3447.