"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
No, it wasn’t SANDRA Bullock seen in Tempe...It was SANDRA Day O’Connor, former Supreme Court Justice. So move over Ms. OSCAR - yes you - the gold statuette poised on a reel of film. There was a pair of magnificent award statues turning heads at a jazzy event this week.
Yes, the powerful bronze statues donated by renowned sculptor John Henry Waddell captivated guests at the benefit for the O’Connor House. (The adobe is the original home of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.) And Sandra Day was among the 400 guests who turned out for the dinner and jazz performance at the Tempe Center for the Arts.
During the musical performance part of the evening, philanthropist Gay Wray, on behalf of the O’Connor House, presented the event’s first leadership awards.
Waddell, whose works have a strong presence within the Sedona arts scene also captivates in downtown Phoenix. His bronze statues “Dance” and one flute player adorn the entrance of the Herberger Theatre.
In 2008 the O’Connor home was moved from its Paradise Valley location, reassembled and relocated to Papago Park in Tempe, Arizona to preserve the legacy of the home and civil discourse. Remember, Sandra Day was the first women to be appointed to the Supreme Court. She and her late husband John O’Connor lived in the home from 1958 to 1981. That’s the year she left for Washington, D.C.
Ivory & Gold, the musical trio with their fabulous ragtime jazz, Tin Pan alley and Broadway tunes were among the musical groups who performed following dinner at the Tempe event.
Event ticket prices were $250 and $500 per person for the dinner and performance and $1,000 -$2,500 per person for the private dinner.
A Chicago Connection Too
Artist John Henry Waddell’s history in Arizona is rich. Among his accolades, he headed up the Art Education Department at Arizona State University until 1964. But for all my Chicago readers- they know Waddell’s work. He is formerly of Chicago and the sculptor attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and University of Chicago.
By the way...The actual Oscars, the official OSCAR statuettes for the Academy Awards, are made in Chicago.
.Kathy Shayna Shocket is a freelance Writer, and TV- Field Producer. The former TV-Reporter has written for publications such as TIME Magazine, MONEY Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter and The NEW YORK TIMES. You can reach her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
