Eric Lassen Memorial Plaque Installed at Community Arts Workshop
- solstice4
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 16
Guest writer: Tom Moore
Several weeks ago there was a sweet, well-attended memorial held at the County Bowl, honoring the life of Eric Lassen, and the many great contributions he made to his community. The breadth of Eric’s work in Santa Barbara, and the swarm of people touched by their association with Eric, were in full evidence at that occasion. Eric was indefatigable in his efforts in behalf of the Summer Solstice, the Community Arts Workshop, Homes for People, and particularly his extraordinary work for the County Bowl, and he was also an extraordinarily kind and gracious man.
Last week I received notice that on July 11 there would be a dedication of a memorial plaque honoring Eric, to be installed at the Community Arts Workshop, in which Eric was a dedicated participant. This occasion was much more modest in scale, but still a very moving one. I joined just six other people, all of them prime movers in the Solstice and the Community Arts Workshop (CAW).
Photo by Tom Moore
Pictured in the above photograph, they were: Leon Olson, a founding member of the Summer Solstice Board of Directors, and another prime mover in his long-time work for the CAW; Ginny Brush, former Director of the County Arts Commission and an active participant in the CAW project; Casey Caldwell, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, which manages the CAW; Claudia Bratton, who served for many years as the Executive Director of the Summer Solstice Celebration; Penny Little, the present Summer Solstice Director; and Riccardo Morrison, who has been the Artistic Director of the Solstice Parade for 20 years.
Casey Caldwell offered some opening remarks about the special person who was Eric Lassen, followed by comments from several others sharing their own joyful associations with Eric. This was followed by Casey sounding the beautiful trumpeting note of his conch shell.
The plaque, donated by the SB Arts Collaborative, is installed at the base of a Queen Palm Tree, dedicated in Eric’s memory, presented through Santa Barbara Beautiful. It is a lovely, well-deserved tribute to a lovely man.
Photo by Tom Moore
It's wonderful to see the "swarm of people" who came to honor Eric Lassen. It shows he wasn't just respected for his extraordinary work for the County Bowl, but also for being an extraordinarily kind and gracious man. His energy was indefatigable, like the engine of a legendary 'drift boss' car, always running at peak performance!
The installation of the Eric Lassen Memorial Plaque at the Community Arts Workshop is a meaningful tribute, honoring his contributions and lasting legacy. Memorials like this not only preserve history but also inspire future generations in the arts and community development. Such initiatives bring people together and highlight the importance of celebrating those who made a difference. In a similar way, organizations and events often use affordable custom patches as memorable keepsakes to honor individuals or promote causes. Custom patches are durable, creative, and budget-friendly, making them a perfect option for commemorations and community-driven projects.
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