The Circle's Legacy: Half a Century of Supporting the Palos Verdes Art Center By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
Since it started in 1975, The Circle — a local women’s support group — has worked behind the scenes of the Palos Verdes Peninsula community to promote the arts.
“Next year — 2025 — we're going to celebrate The Circle's 50th anniversary,” says Evelyn Kita, president of The Circle. “So it has been a great community effort initially to bring the arts to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Currently, we have 116 members, mostly retired professional women, but also women who are still working in their fields. And they have an interest in art, and their goal and purpose is to support the [Palos Verdes] Art Center.”
For the past 50 years, The Circle has held fundraisers to support the Palos Verdes Art Center (PVAC). In 1975, the organization started with 85 women, whose first fundraiser was to sell cookware in a parking lot, which netted them $2,000. Then, they raised more funds among themselves to reach a grand total of $11,000 to give to the PVAC that first year.
Since then, The Circle’s fundraising efforts have evolved over the years, now culminating in an estimated lifetime donation of well over $1.5 million. For example, beginning in 1988 and running all the way until the COVID-19 pandemic, they held home tours, art walks and kitchen tours.
However, their largest event post-COVID is their Collected Treasures fundraiser, a large-scale collectibles sale that takes place every March. Originally started as part of a larger PVAC fundraiser Art for Fun(d)s Sake in the 1980s, the estate-style sale quickly grew in popularity and even became 20% of the total revenue from Art for Fun(d)s Sake in the 1990s.
However, the preparation for the event starts the previous June. Community members drop off collectibles they no longer want at the PVAC parking lot, and some people even leave estates to the cause. They gather various high-quality items, from furniture and paintings to artifacts and jewelry. Then, the women volunteer hours and hours of work to clean, prepare, price and categorize the pieces to ensure the event is a success.
“The items are pretty unique — something you won't see in a market or store,” Kita says. “So it's a lot of fun to shop. And people travel all over the world, so they bring home items from their travels. And later on, they don't want those items either. [We get] international kinds of things like African masks or Japanese kimonos — we've always gotten those very interesting items. So if you like the unique it's something you should visit.”
Beyond organizing fundraising events, The Circle finds other ways to further art on the Hill. For example, they support Art at Your Fingertips, a program at Palos Verdes schools designed to bring art education to young students. For Kita, the importance of art education is a large part of what drove her to join The Circle 12 years ago.
“I'm a retired educator. I worked in education for 41 years and something that was always underfunded, and the first budget item cut, was fine arts,” Kita says. “So I wanted to support the arts. And that's why I asked to join The Circle.”
They also hold meetings every other month for members that feature an artist as a speaker.
“In the last few years, we've featured mostly local artists,” Kita says. “They're plentiful and very talented.”
Although its central goal is to further the arts, The Circle also provides a way for women in the Palos Verdes community to connect. Kita describes the women as “a very motivated, purposeful group.”
“I've met the most interesting ladies from very diverse backgrounds and very diverse fields,” Kita says. “Having worked in education for 41 years, all I knew were principals, teachers, directors, but it was all one profession. So this has given me a wonderful opportunity to see women who have other roles. And some of them really broke the glass ceiling in the success they've had because earlier on, women were not allowed to go into many of the fields. So I'm happy to meet these ladies who have done so well in their life.”
Kathy Shinkle has been a member of The Circle for 14 years. She joined after working as the public relations coordinator for the PVAC for 13 years. After retiring, she still wanted to be involved.
“I was so impressed with the women who were in The Circle that when I retired, I said, ‘I want to join them,’” Shinkle says. “I don't live on the Hill. I live in Hermosa Beach. But to me, it was just a unique institution that I wanted to continue to support in some way beyond taking classes there. And I must admit I've loved every minute of it.”
The women form bonds beyond their shared love of art. They tend to participate in smaller group activities together, from book clubs to dinner groups. Through The Circle, they gain more than just a way to help the community: they gain friendship.
“About the only way we lose members is through death or when they move away,” Kita says. “[The women] are dedicated and they're so diligent in the way they support this organization. So I'm very proud to be a part of it.”
The PVAC has been around since 1931 and has served as a pivotal institution for bringing the arts to the community. Kita hopes to continue to see the community become more involved in supporting arts on the Hill.
If you would like to support The Circle, you can donate collectibles for the Collected Treasures event from 12-2 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month, and you can plan to attend in March.
Emily McGinn: A Dedicated Journalist
Fueled by passion and curiosity, Emily McGinn is a fervent journalist whose heart beats for truth and creativity. As a graduate of California Baptist University, Emily’s academic voyage is adorned with rich interests in environmental science, political science, and graphic design. Her portfolio is a mosaic of hard work and dedication, evidenced by a repertoire of content that stands as a testament to her journalistic commitment and academic pursuits.
Emily doesn’t just chase stories; she seeks the truth with a thoughtful blend of accuracy, respect, and diligence. Her journalism transcends mere reporting, reflecting a meticulous effort to maintain integrity and excellence in every piece. Inspired by a profound respect for her craft, Emily is unafraid to push boundaries, perpetually aiming to enhance the quality of her work.
Experimentation and innovation light up Emily’s journey, especially in the realm of design. With an artistic flair, she loves exploring the vibrant intersections of journalism and graphic design, continuously experimenting to breathe visual life into stories and publications.
In Emily's world, journalism is not merely a career choice, but a calling—a space where passion meets purpose, and stories are crafted with care and conscience. In the garden of journalism, she continues to cultivate a bouquet of skills and experiences that resonate with her dedication to truth, creativity, and excellence.