Archive for the ‘Smithsonian Young Benefactor’s Ball’ Category

1869 Society

October 1, 2007

I get alot of emails regarding which young benefactor group to join in DC. There are several to choose from and if you are familiar with some of my past posts it’s obvious which one I believe in enough to be affiliated – and that is the 1869 Society at The Corcoran Gallery of Art.

For several reasons: The programming at the Corcoran Gallery is the most progressive; Yes, I’m sure moms in Virginia are more pumped about the Ansel Adams show than me, but an evening with Annie Leibovitz or Jeremy Blake is much more enticing than another Turner Retrospective.

The other members are commmitted and vibrant supporters of the regional art community. You can always count on meeting someone enriching and enjoying some event or exhibition that has its finger on the pulse of what’s important in today’s art world – not what was fashionable 400 years ago.

1869′s first event is the scavenger hunt during the cultural cocktails evening:

Cultural Cocktails
Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m.
1869 Society FREE, Members $10, Public $24

What was the age of the photographer in the oldest of the prints in Ansel Adams? Which Annie Leibovitz photograph is being exhibited to the public for the first time here at the Corcoran? Join us for Find the Photograph, a Corcoran scavenger hunt on October 18, for a chance to win complimentary tickets to the 1869 Society’s Fall Fête: Natural Glamour in Black and White. Light Hors d’oeuvres and open bar.

Hope to see you there!

Annie Leibovitz’s renditon of the 1869 Society:

teenqueen.jpg

Just kidding – its from her Marie Antoinette shoot – sorry guys, Kirsten Dunst is not a member

Update on feelings toward the Smithsonian Institute

July 20, 2007

A while back I wrote a snarky post about the Young Benefactor’s Society of the Smithsonian asking me for a donation.

Well, I was once a young intern looking for a break and a sweet girl (who was a helluva of a follow-upper) got me to donate a framed Dalek (James Marshall) print.

Please go bid! for the good of the Smithsonian!

Dear Ms. Lauren Gentile,

July 5, 2007

Today I received a letter from the Smithsonian Young Benefactors Society, of which I am a member, requesting that I donate a work of art for their 17th Annual Ball and Silent Auction held on September 15.

Firstly Sept. 15 is a bad date for anyone in the private sector in DC. It’s the beginning of the whole art market in DC marking the first evening of openings for the Fall 2007 program schedules at every gallery in the city.

Secondly, even as I contemplate whether “…as a Silent Auction donor, (I) will recieve visibility with thousands of young professionals through recognition…” some facts published this week (by Walter Robinson) resounded in my memory:

1. Lawrence M Small’s pay check increased in 7 years first by 40% over his predecessor, then to more than $535,000 and by the time he resigned this year, he was making $915,698.

2. Small’s pay increased while the amount of private donations to the Smithsonian decreased. Private donations hit an all time low in 2003 at $88 million, but finally rebounded to $132 million (which is still 10% lower than when Small began his career at the Smithsonian in early 1999).

3. He was able to conceal these facts by categorizing about $200,000 of that amount as a “housing allowance”.

4. He took “vacation” for 10 weeks a year, then another 3 weeks each year serving on “corporate boards”, which earned him an addition $5.7 million between 2000 and 2006.

5. Also during 2000-2006, his deputy, Sheila P. Burke, spent 400 business days, 1/4 of her work time away from the Smithsonian serving on “corporate boards” and pursued other endeavors, earning her $10 million in outside income.

Looks like the Young Benefactors Society needs to re-review their mailing list – they’re missing out big time…

Sincerely,
LG


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