Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2011 > September > 24 > Entry
Reception at Blanton Museum of Art
Ravishing art, sociable leaders and nimble conversation: These elements blended gracefully during a reception at the Blanton Museum of Art on Thursday. The occasion was the opening of an exhibition by Nigerian artist El Anatsui, who graciously answered questions from guests in the museum’s aquatically hued lobby. His large, colorful, sculptural pieces will be described in an upcoming article by Jeanne Claire van Ryzin.
Simone Wicha and Doug Dempster
My focus turned to the people, including new Blanton director Simone Wicha, an adept fundraiser, I hear, and enormously personable. She plans to elevate the work of the museum’s curators, who specialize in various fields of art history.
Francesca Manning-Dolnier and Arsalan Eftekhar
Other amenable personages on hand: University of Texas President William Powers Jr., College of Fine Arts Dean Doug Dempster, museum namesake Jack Blanton and his family, dynamic duo Annette DiMeo Carlozzi and Dan Bulluck, former Blanton head Jessie Otto Hite, as well as key collectors like Jeanne and Michael Klein and Joyce Christian and Rudy Green.
Moyo Okediji and Kimberli Gant
May I add this throwaway: I think Powers will go down as one of UT’s most effective presidents. The way he has handled political intervention into the university’s governance and chaos among collegiate sports conferences is pretty darn amazing.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Arts, Education
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.