[Photo by Eric Weiss]
Catching up with one of the great philanthropists of our time
By Lisa Stahl
For an institution once considered “establishment,” the current exhibit Burning Down the House is more than merely metaphor. Here at the Brooklyn Museum, wall space is finally repatriated.
In searing, provocative images, nearly fifty works on display at the Center for Feminist Art from feminist artists like Kiki Smith and Lorna Simpson explore gender inequality and perceptions. They participate in more than artistic exhibition; they celebrate the groundbreaking recognition of a movement both artistic and political.
The exhibit mirrors the passionate commitment to social change and gender equality of founder and financier Elizabeth Sackler. The center is her brainchild; it’s the first museum collection devoted not just to female artists but to feminist art.
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Talking with the faces behind one of the world’s great cultural institutions
By Kathleen Joiner
On August 23, 2004, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in Cincinnati, Ohio, steps from the banks of the Ohio River, the dividing line separating slave and free states in the decades leading to the Civil War. Housing slavery era artifacts, permanent and changing exhibits—including an original slave pen, a holding place for slaves awaiting auction—the Freedom Center tells the story of slavery, America’s struggle for freedom, while serving as a safe house to foster healing and restoration.
While the museum was still a concept, a diverse core group of citizens united to raise the necessary $110 million to start the institution. The mission was clear: To reveal stories about freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom today.
We talked to some of these founders and current Freedom Center supporters about why building and growing the Freedom Center is paramount. Here’s what they had to say:
^ John Pepper, Retired CEO of Procter & Gamble and Co-Chair of NURFC’s Board of Directors: “The youngsters are the nucleus of change,” he says. “Change cannot be made if the history is unknown.”
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[Left to Right: DreamHome Living Room Designer Grace Sielaff, Sheila Kennedy, and Chris Kennedy. DreamHome is a design house sponsored by Chicago’s Merchandise Mart that features nine couture rooms created by renowned Chicago designers and using furnishings from the Merchandise Mart. Image courtesy of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.]
In recent years, Chris Kennedy has worked tirelessly to promote art through politics, philanthropy, and sheer love of creativity
By Lynn Morgan
‘‘I don’t know if people who live in Chicago can explain to people who live in LA why art is important!” laughs Chris Kennedy, the president of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI), the owners and operators of the newly refurbished LA Mart and the producers of ten international art fairs, including Art Chicago, the Toronto International Art Fair, VOLTA and the Armory Show. Because of his involvement in the business of both fine and decorative art, he has a unique perspective on the importance of art to community and to commerce.
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[Elizabeth Segerstrom]
Catching up with one of the great philanthropists of our time
By Tina Marie Tyler
There is something about Elizabeth Segerstrom that transcends wealth, art, and culture. It whispers of perspicacity, blushes of compassion, and radiates a gentle humanity that warms those around her. In a rare interview, she exudes the complexity of a woman determined to embrace life through art and on a foundation of family.
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[Montblanc International CEO Lutz Bethge, Lang Lang, and President and CEO of Montblanc North America Jan-Patrick Schmitz. Photograph By John Sciulli ©Berliner Studio/BEImages. All Rights Reserved]
First in a series of spotlights on the world’s great charitable organizations
“I am deeply impressed by Montblanc’s sincere and exceptionally strong global commitment to culture,” says classical pianist Lang Lang, Montblanc Foundation’s culture chairman and brand ambassador. “It has always been my dream to spark an interest in classical music in even more people, particularly more young people, and I am delighted at the opportunities this collaboration presents.” Lang Lang is an exemplary ambassador for Montblanc. The now-brilliant pianist grew up under difficult circumstances in China, experiencing hardships while striving to develop his skills.
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As Director Hervé Chandès explains, running an art foundation can be a bumpy ride
By Joelle Diderich
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By Jessica L. Darraby
Eli Broad enters the inner sanctum of his office in an art-filled suite precisely on time for his tightly-scheduled meeting. It’s the day after the Los Angeles City Council has approved his Grand Avenue Development project and clearly life is busy for the businessman turned full-time philanthropist. Broad, alongside a who’s-who list of collaborators that includes architect Frank Gehry, is spearheading the multi-billion-dollar effort to revitalize Downtown L.A. and finally the green light has been given. Read the rest of this entry »
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