Painting finds its new home
Two years after it was first sold, a painting with the Shakespearean quote “Though she be but little, she is fierce” has found a new home, making its way from the hands of a CSUSB alumna to a CSUSB student.
During an auction at a university theater arts production in 2016, a couple had placed a bid on the painting in hopes of giving it to their daughter, a CSUSB student. Ellen Weisser, an alumna and chair of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation Board, had placed a bid on the piece as well, and became the new owner of the painting.
Over the next couple of years, Weisser admits that she couldn’t help but think of the student each time she’d look at the piece. Although she adored the painting, she felt it was right to give it to the student – but she did not know who she was.
In an effort to find out the student’s identity, Weisser reached out to the university, and with a bit of digging, Emily Barrow was discovered. At a recent theater arts production, Weisser presented the painting to Barrow’s parents to give to their daughter.
During the search, Barrow wasn’t the only one who was found – the artist, Sara Flis, a CSUSB alumna and performing arts technician in the theater arts department, was also located. When Flis heard the story, she offered to make Weisser another painting. Weisser happily accepted.
And the generosity didn’t end there – Weisser offered to make a donation to the theater arts department for the replacement painting, however, an anonymous third party who was moved by the story, made the donation on Weisser’s behalf.
