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 Richmond, Houston, and L.A. Social Diary
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| Indian Sitar players in Pavilion/South Asian Gallery |
It was foretold after the Civil War that The South would rise again and indeed several hundred of Virginia’s most philanthropic socialites seemed to fulfill that promise on Friday, April 23, when the august Virginia Museum of Fine Arts hosted a lavish soiree to celebrate the opening of the enormous $150 million James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Wing.
"Actually we have raised about $200 million for both this architectural project and endowments," Board President Pamela Reynolds proudly disclosed during a private luncheon prior to the black-tie gala that evening, as bulldozers rearranged the sculpture garden landscape beyond the lily ponds just outside the towering windows, all sleekly designed by modernist London architect Rick Mather. |
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| An extension to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts by London architect Rick Mather. |
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| Cocktails on the museum terrace |
It was in the depths of the Great Depression that the original VMFA opened in 1936, on the site of a Confederate soldiers' retirement park (which also has a replica of The White House, a home for Confederate Ladies, still standing on the spacious campus), as a Federal WPA building planned to house a 1919 donation by Judge John Barton Payne of 50 paintings to form the nation's first state art museum. Billionaire art collector Paul Mellon and his sister Ailsa Mellon Bruce soon added their incomparable financial support, and the collections steadily grew to world class stature, as with the Lillian Thomas Pratt bequest of Fabergé eggs and jewels in 1947, and the rococo and neo-classical English silver of New Yorkers Jerome and Rita Gans in 1996.
Many New Yorkers will, in fact, meet up with an old friend when perusing the new American galleries. Here in pride of place is the Worsham-Rockefeller Room, which was installed for many years in the Museum of the City of New York, which recently, and very generously, donated the room to the Virginia Museum. The bedroom is from the posh 1880s New York City home of native Richmonder Arabella Yarrington Worsham Huntington. (She later sold the house to John D. Rockefeller Sr., who left the interiors largely intact.) |
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| Among the honored guests were five governors of Virginia (from left): Linwood Holton, Tim Kaine, Governor Bob McDonnell, James Gilmore, Douglas Wilder, VMFA President Pamela Reynolds, VMFA Director Alex Nyerges. Mark Warner also attended but unavailable for the photograph. |
| "Now we can claim to be among the top ten art museums in America," the stately museum's director Alex Lee Nyerges confidently announced during a tour of the galleries, encompassing European and American paintings, sculpture, and furniture, huge baroque tapestries, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine antiquities, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian masterworks, Pre-Columbian and Native American treasures, the extraordinary Art Nouveau and Art Deco and mid to late 20th-century art collections of Richmonders Sydney and Frances Lewis, who founded the Best Products Company, as well as the renowned Ludwig and Rosy Fischer collection of German Expressionism, among many other divisions and departments. |
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| Tom Farrell during standing ovation for McGlothlins |
Pamela Reynolds, whose husband is Richard S. "Major" Reynolds, of the eponymous aluminum dynasty, is the Old Dominion's most flamboyant and effervescent hostess, and she informed this correspondent that her extravagant gown for the ball, made by artist Melody Gulick was her own creation, "made entirely of paper and inspired by the fantastic dresses of Alexander McQueen and Christian Lacroix," as you can see in the photo of her.
Joining her were no less than six Virginia governors, including the current boss, Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen, and past bosses Tim Kaine and his wife Anne, James Gilmore and his wife Roxane, Douglas Wilder, Mark Warner (now US Senator) and Linwood Holton, who posed together for an unprecedented gubernatorial portrait in the vast Harwood and Louise Cochrane atrium, while musicians serenaded the revelers and Cirque du Soleil-style acrobats performed high above. |
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| The glass and limestone-clad extension centres around an atrium with five bridges connecting the five levels of the building. |
Among the glamorous guests were Jim and Fran McGlothin, in whose honor the new wing is named, Roland Celette, Cultural Attaché Embassy of France, Louise and Harwood Cochrane, Sybil and Charles Thalhimer, Marty Barrington (of Altria Group, which owns Philip Morris, and which underwrote the party along with the Dominion Resources, Richard S. Reynolds Foundation, and SunTrust) Charlotte and Gil Minor, Freddy and Lawrence Gray, Hobie and Catherine Claiborne III, Janie Armfield, Dorothy and Stan Pauley, Elizabeth Locke and John Staelin, Stewart and Lissy Bryan (whose Media General is a major Southeast communications company and was founded by his great grandfather), Jenny and Andy Lewis Selina and Gordon Rainey, Cynthia and Heywood Fralin, Thurston Moore, Kathy and Steve Markel, Susie and Ben Rawles, Ranjit and Inge Sen, Nancy and Robert Nooter, Adair Wheat, former director Michael Brand and his wife Tina, former director Katherine Lee Reid, Philip Klaus, Tiff and Kelly Armstrong, Bucci and John Zegner, John Luke, Shantaram and Sunita Taleganokar, Floyd and Helga Gottwald, Meg and Whit Clement, Caroline Hsu and Rene Balcer (the producer of "Law and Order"), Director Alex and Katherine Nyerges, architects Rick Mather and Peter Culley, and Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, who confided to his companion, "This really puts us back on the map!"
— Gregory Speck for NYSD |
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Shantaram and Sunita Taleganokar |
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Hobie and Catherine Claiborne III with Moira and CT Hill |
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John Staelin and Elizabeth Locke |
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Janie Armfield with Pamela Reynolds |
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Gordon and Selina Rainey |
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Major and Pamela Reynolds |
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Bobbie and Jim Ukrop with Dorothy Pauley |
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First Lady Maureen McDonnell, Doug Wilder and Fran McGlothlin |
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Gil and Charlotte Minor |
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Louise Cochrane |
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Michael Brand and his wife Tina |
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Frances Lewis |
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Inge, Ranjit Sen, and Kathryn Nyerges |
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Floyd and Helga Gottwald |
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| Alex Nyerges |
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Former Governor Tim Kaine |
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US Senator Bobby Scott |
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Dorothy and Stan Pauley |
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Jim McGlothlin with Governor Bob McDonnell |
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Houston, TX — Over 70 people attended the 10th anniversary celebration of the Rienzi Society. Meg Goodman and Mike Bonini chaired the event with co-chairs Isla and Tommy Reckling.
Guests enjoyed cocktails while previewing potential purchases for the collection, and during dinner voted on artwork to acquire for Rienzi’s collection, which includes 18th- and 19th- century European porcelain, silver, furniture, ceramics, and glass.
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| Luke McConn, Ann Doggett, James Reckling, and Elise Reckling and friends |
In the ballroom, an elegant meal prepared by Jackson and Company included asparagus spears with truffle oil, fleur de sel, and shaved black truffles; beef tenderloin with béarnaise sauce; whipped potatoes; creamed spinach; and cheese, fruit and nuts. Over a dessert of chocolate pots de crème, Rienzi director Katherine Howe announced voting results.
A sterling silver Epergne (1754-55) made in London by William Cripps was the clear winner. Cripps made this formal centerpiece for Lord George Sackville, Secretary of State for the American Colonies from 1775.
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| Dinenr guests |
With the remaining funds, guests also purchased a pair of Side Chairs (1730)—almost textbook examples of English George II side chairs—thanks to an additional donation from Cornelia and Meredith Long. Mrs. Long is the chairman of the MFAH board.
The surprise of the evening was that Jackson Hicks (founder of Jackson and Company) purchased an English silver Tea Urn made in London in 1764 for Rienzi in celebration of 10 years of the Rienzi Society and in honor of 25 years of service to the Masterson and Reckling families, who gave Rienzi to the MFAH.
Guests included: Harry and Rose Cullen, Elise and James Reckling, Jeanie Kilroy, Jas Gundry, Frank and Michelle Hevrdejs, Pat Breen, Les Ballard, Carroll Goodman, and Christiana McConn. |
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Blake and Laurie Liedtke with Bob Wakefield |
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Christine Gervais with Park Shaper |
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Elise and James Reckling |
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Sybil Roos and Dr. Jack Tausend |
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Mike Bonini and Luke McConn |
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Harry and Rose Cullen |
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Meredith and Cornelia Long with Frank and Michelle Hevrdejs |
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Leslie and Ann Doggett |
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Harriett Goodman and Jeanie Kilroy with Isla McConn |
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Meg Goodman and Mike Bonini |
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Carol Ballard and Judy Margolis |
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Cindy Thorp and Hayden Rieveschl |
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Isla Reckling and Meg Goodman with Mary Jane Wakefield |
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Jas Gundry and Tommy Reckling |
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Victor and Shirley Hopkins |
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Patti Burke and Kay Bruce and Joan Bynum |
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Mr. and Mrs. Reckling with Joseph Jornayvez and Miss Isla McConn |
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Mike Bonini and Meg Goodman |
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Park and Mary Eliza Shaper |
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Muffet Blake, Bob Murray, and Fran Fauntleroy |
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Pat Breen and Les Ballard |
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Katherine Howe and Jeanie Kilroy |
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Victor Hopkins with Isla Reckling |
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More from Houston — On Saturday, March 27, 2010, the Houston Symphony held its 2010 Ball and After Party Music Matters! What a Wonderful World at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Americas in Houston. Kelli and Martin Fein were Ball chairmen and Margaret Alkek Williams was Honorary chairman. Ben Harwood Rose and Erica Rose were the After Party chairmen. The evening raised more than $900,000.
The evening honorees were: Aileen B. Gordon received the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Philanthropy Award. Jeanie Reckart accepted on behalf of Fidelity Investments the Houston Symphony's Maurice Hirsch Corporate Citizenship Award. Cora Sue Mach received special recognition for her leadership in the areas of education and community engagement for Houston Symphony.
The Ball entertainment featured The Richard Brown Orchestra with special guest Troy “Satchmo” Anderson. Darryl Murchison transformed the ballroom into a magical garden with a New Orleans flavor. Instead of multiple speakers there was a moving video describing the Houston Symphony’s Music Matters! education program. |
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Bobby and Phoebe Tudor |
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Bill and Joann Crassas |
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Ceron and Diane Lokey Farb |
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Aileen Gordon and Frann Lichenstein |
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Brandon VanWaeyenberghe and Jeanie Reckart |
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Cora Sue Mach |
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Fady Armanious |
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Cyvia Wolff and Lois Stark |
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Donna Speer, Susan Boggio, Darlene Bisso |
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Ed and Lorraine Wulfe |
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Joanne King Herring |
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Christina and Mark Hanson |
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Ulyesse and Barbara LeGrange |
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Liz Granville |
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Kathi and Bill Rovere |
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Kelli Fein, Margaret Alkek Williams, Martin Fein |
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Jim Denton and Jeanne Becker |
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John and Danielle Ellis |
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Kelli and Martin Fein |
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David and Tara Wuthrich |
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Margaret Alkek Williams |
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Y. Ping Sun |
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Rebecca Chapman |
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Paula and Magnus Fyrh |
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Richard and Sylvia Hoffert |
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Sharon Gaille and Nancy Littlejohn |
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Anat Kaufman and Jay Zeidman |
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Angie Guiberteau and Ryan Moore |
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Courtney Zubowski and Stevie Bingham |
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Lindsey Love |
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Erin Finger and Ben Harwood Rose |
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Lea and Tom Radom |
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Kristyn and Marty Hogan |
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Lori Freese and Beth Bryant |
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Terry Zmyslo and Edward Sanchez |
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Melissa Seuffert and Brett Mitchell |
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| Even more from Houston — Decorative Center Houston's annual Spring Market drew a large crowd of enthusiastic art and design aficionados. A panel discussion on how luxury is being redefined in today’s marketplace was moderated by Veranda Magazine’s Editor-at Large, Carolyn Englefield, and panelists Peter Pennoyer, Art of Design award winner; and designers Michelle Nussbaumer, Jan Showers, Geoffrey Westergaard, and J. Randall Powers. Panelists led discussions on craft, innovation, authenticity, value and social responsibility on how they contribute to today’s definition of luxury. |
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John Casbarian, Natalye Appel, Julia Casbarian, Claudia Casbarian, and Danny Samuels |
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Peter Pennoyer, Michelle Nussbaumer, Carolyn Englefield, Jan Showers, Geoffrey Westergaard, and J. Randall Powers |
| Following the keynote presentation, sponsors hosted showroom events throughout the day. The final keynote presentation in the afternoon was entitled “The Evolution of Design” and was led by Sophie Donelson and Julie Noran with The Editor at Large. Panelist Jillian St. Charles, Vice President and Site Director HGTV.com; Brad Ford, Designer and Founder, DesignTherapy.com; Ronda Carman, Founder, All theBestBlog.com and Joni Webb, Founder, CotedeTexas.blogspot.com led discussions on using new tools and resources to innovate and take business in new directions. Through creative initiatives and forward thinking, these panelists have become trailblazers with setting new standards and contributing to a new evolving world of design. |
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Charles S. Cohen, Julia Noran, Jillian St. Charles, Joni Webb, Sophie Donelson, Ronda Carman, and Brad Ford |
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Sophie Donelson, Julia Noran, Ronda Carman, Brad Ford, Jillian St. Charles, and Joni Webb |
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Joe Shaffer, Keiji Asakura, Melissa Borell, Danny Samuels, John Casbarian, and Aaron Parazette |
After a full day of activities, the Spring Market concluded with the announcement of the Stars of Design Award winners saluting outstanding design talent. This year’s winners were:
Lifetime Achievement: Meredith Long, Meredith Long & Company
Architecture: John Casbarian & Danny Samuels, Taft Architects
Art: Aaron Parazette
Graphic Design: Paula Savage Hansen, SAVAGE
Interior Design: P. Joe Shaffer
Jewelry Design: Melissa Borrell, Melissa Borrell Design
Landscape Design, Keiji Asakura, Asakura Robinson Company
Photography: Keith Carter |
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Selena Mackay and Karen Taylor |
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Corneila and Meredith Long |
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Keiji Asakura and daughter Sophie |
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John Andell and Craig Tooms |
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Sharon Bicle and Katie Brockman |
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Selena Mackay, Larissa Pineda, and Patricia Goravanchi |
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Keiji Asakura and Fernando Brave |
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Dahlia Salazar, Paula Savage Hansen, and Bethany Haley |
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Sandra Llewellyn, Barry Dixon, and Carolyn Englefield |
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Mary Hilton and Bill Stubbs |
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Carol Piper, Georgia Foulard, and Priscilla Larson |
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Carol Isaak Barden and Stephen Fox |
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Chuck Gulick, Allen Huff, and Vann Vaughan |
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Allen McReynolds with Buck and Sharon Ballas |
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Milton Townsend and Jackson Hicks |
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Jeanne Crusemann Daniels and Jas Gundry |
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Ryan Reitmeyer, Allen McReynolds, Kay O'Toole, and Piper Carol |
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Charles S. Cohen and Paula Savage Hansen |
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Laura Roach, Marsha Cross Beeson, and Punita Valambhia |
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Sophie Donelson |
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P. Joe Shaffer and Charles S. Cohen |
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And even more from Houston – Legacy Community Health Services recently held their 11th anniversary with this year’s gala: Where Fashion Meets Philanthropy, a fashionable soiree featuring fashion, cuisine, and music from around the world. This year’s chairs were the spectacular trio of Bob Devlin, Melissa Mithoff and Susan Plank. The elegant soiree was held at Neiman Marcus Couture Salon-Houston Galleria on Sunday, May 2, 2010.
Legacy honored Houstonian’s, Debra and Mark Grierson, with the 11th Annual Jerry D. Bartee Humanitarian Award in recognition of their extraordinary philanthropic spirit and tremendous support of Legacy Community Health Services. The Jerry D. Bartee Humanitarian Award was named after Jerry Bartee, a true visionary who took on the daunting task of bringing to light the importance of helping those who could not access quality healthcare.
Jerry believed in the mission of Legacy Community Health Services and worked to ensure Legacy’s growth in order to meet the increasing healthcare needs of the greater Houston community.
Legacy Community Health Services is a full service Federally Qualified Health Center that provides comprehensive, primary healthcare services to all Houstonians in a culturally sensitive, judgment-free and confidential environment.
Each year Legacy provides low-cost or no-cost primary healthcare services, all on a sliding fee scale, to over 20,000 Houston area men, women and children who would not otherwise have access to quality healthcare. For the convenience of patients, Legacy operates from three Houston area clinics and has an onsite Walgreen’s pharmacy at its main clinic location.
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Margaret Alkek Williams |
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Christine Sullivan, Debbie Festari, and Mauney Mafrige |
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| Legacy employs a full-time staff of physicians and healthcare professionals who provide services that include specialized care for men and women, podiatric care, family planning services, eye care, psychiatry, and wellness services including physical therapy, personal training and nutrition services, as well as specialized healthcare for HIV/AIDS. Legacy conducts community outreach activities that promote various health issues to underserved communities and also operates the Legacy Advocacy Project, which advocates at the city, state and federal levels for fair and effective healthcare related policies. |
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Melissa and Michael Mithoff |
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Debra and Mark Grierson |
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Joan and Luke Mandola |
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Bob Devlin and Liz Zaruba |
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Katherine Phelps |
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Susan and Mike Plank |
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Monsour Taghdisi and Carolyn Farb |
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Maryann and David McKeithan |
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Elizabeth and Gary Petersen |
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Sarah and Ron Simon |
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Sheridan William and Pat Breen |
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Eddie and Sheridan Williams with Ginni and Richard Mithoff |
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Judith Oudt |
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Leigh Williams and Courtney Hopson |
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Mark Siurek, Katy Caldwell, and Gary Higgins |
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Robyn Vermeil |
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Paul-David Van Atta and Ceron |
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Milton Townsend |
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Laura Cassey and Jennifer Stern |
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Ericka and Jeff Bagwell |
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Chree Boydstun and Gina Sullivan |
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Wolfgang and Gelila Puck invited 100 (RSVP list also attached) of friends of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for dinner at Wolfie’s new restaurant, WP24 (at the equally new Ritz-Carlton) to celebrate the museum’s new curatorial team in the Modern, Contemporary and Photography Departments.
LACMA has added four fabulous new curators in these areas, Franklin Sirmans (who came from the Menil Collection in Houston to be Senior Curator and Department Head of Contemporary Art), Christine Y. Kim as Associate Curator of Contemporary Art (who came from the Studio Museum in Harlem) and Rita Gonzalez.
In the Photography Department they have brought in Britt Salvesen (who came from the Center for Creative Photography in Arizona) and Edward Robinson (a former fellow at MoMA), who joined the staff last year becoming Associate Curator of Photography.
LACMA's Director, Michael Govan and his wife Katherine Ross co-hosted the event with the Pucks for 100 guests who included actress Rachel Griffith (Brothers and Sisters), and Julie Bowen (who stars in the television show Modern Family) as well as artist Mark Bradford, and movie producer Irwin (and wife Margo) Winkler. |
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Adam Winkler and Brickson Diamond |
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Irwin Winkler and Margo Winkler |
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Carl Petty John and Violet Lucas |
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Andy Taylor and Rachel Griffiths |
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Erin Wright and Joe Sola |
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Julie Bowen |
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Joy Simmons and Christine Y. Kim |
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Burt Levitch and Carol Eliel |
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Leslie Rubinoff and Karyn Lovegrove |
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Melissa Bomes and Gregory Gilmer |
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Britt Salvesen, Erin Wright, Wolf Gang Puck, and Gelila Puck |
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David LaChapelle and Michael Farhang |
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Jamie McCourt, Katherine Ross, and Gelila Puck |
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Pete and Terry Morello |
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Mark Selwny, Brenda Potter, and Edward Robinson |
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Linda and Jerry Janger |
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Mark Sone and Kurt Shephard |
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Stephanie Barron and Linda Janger |
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Michael Govan and Katherine Ross |
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Michelle Urton |
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Sharon Johnson, Jennifer Parker |
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Violet Spitzer Lucas, Katherine Ross |
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Samantha Davies and Michelle Gonzales |
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Waldo Fernandez and Meredith Daro |
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Sarah Watson and Julian Sands |
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| Photographs by Gregory Speck (Virginia); Fulton Davenport/Kim Coffman (Houston Symphony); George Ramirez Photography (Rienzi); Eric Hester (DCH); PatrickMcMullan.com (LACMA). |
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