The Dallas Museum of Art and Silver Supper 2017 co-chairs Rusty Duvall and Peggy Sewell welcomed over 70 patrons, sponsors and collectors to the Silver Supper 2017 announcement party on Thursday, September 22 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Museum’s Paintings Conservation Gallery and Founders Room.
Guests mingled among current conservation projects on view while enjoying wine and light hors d’oeuvres. At the appointed time, William “Bill” Solomon, chairman, board of directors for the Hoblitzelle Foundation, gathered the crowd for special announcements.
Mr. Solomon briefly shared the history behind Silver Supper, which began after the Hoblitzelle Foundation made a substantial gift of English and Irish Silver to the Museum in 1987. Esther and Karl Hoblitzelle were legendary collectors of silver during the 1930’s through the 1950’s, much of which they used for entertaining. An idea evolved to stage a dinner, Silver Supper, in the tradition of the Hoblitzelle parties, to build enthusiasm among patrons for the Decorative Arts program. Solomon then announced that in commemoration of the upcoming 25th anniversary of Silver Supper and the 75th anniversary of the Hoblitzelle Foundation, the 2017 dinnerwould be underwritten by the Foundation to ensure that all the funds raised would go directly to support the Museum’s Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment Fund.
Paul Harris, president and CEO of the Hoblitzelle Foundation, followed with highlights of the Foundation’s history, which included his father, Lynn Harris. After serving as Mr. Hoblitzelle’s personal secretary and assistant for more than three decades, the elder Harris served as the Foundation’s president and CEO, to be followed by his son Paul, who has held the position for more than 30 years. Harris proudly shared that the first gift the Foundation made was to the Dallas Museum of Art, starting what has become a long-standing partnership between the organizations.
Following, event co-chairs Rusty Duvall and Peggy Sewell, thanked Mr. Solomon and Mr. Harris, as well as Hoblitzelle Foundation board members, DMA Trustees and long-time Silver Supper patrons in attendance.
Ms. Sewell also recognized the Hoblitzelle Foundation for their generosity and long standing partnership by sharing that 28 years ago the Dallas Museum of Art became one of America’s most important public silver holdings when the Foundation donated 550 pieces. The diversity of the English and Irish silver styles and exceptional quality of these pieces rank the DMA silver collection among the finest in the country. This transformative gift also included 47 paintings that contained 17th-century Italian and Dutch masters as well as works by 19th century American artists.
In honor of the Foundation’s support and their upcoming 75th anniversary, the Covered Cup, one of the Foundations gifts, will be the signature piece for the 2017 event. Created by Paul de Lamerie, one of Europe’s finest 18th century silversmiths, the Covered Cup will be incorporated in Silver Supper’s marketing and event materials, in addition to being on display at the event. Ms. Duvall then revealed the date for Silver Supper 2017: Friday, September 22, 2017 at the Dallas Museum of Art.
Since its inception the Silver Supper has raised more than $1,000,000 for the Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment Fund, and in this tradition, the 2017 dinner will continue to celebrate the Museum’s exception international collection of decorative arts and design. Sponsorships and tickets will be available in January 2017.
Silver Supper 2017 Announcement Party attendees included: Co-chairs Rusty Duvall and Peggy Sewell, Hoblitzelle board chairman, William T. “Bill” Solomon and Gay Solomon, Hoblitzelle president and CEO Paul Harris, Bill Duvall, Carl Sewell, Catherine Rose, president of DMA Board of Trustees, Caren Prothro, Sharon Young, John Dayton, Beth Ewing, Lisa and John Runyon, Ann Barbier-Mueller, Claire Dewar, Capera Ryan, Carrie Becker, Melinda and Mark Knowles, Sarah Jo and Mark Hardin, Nancy Shutt, Mark Moussa and Juliette Aston, Sheila and Frank Durante, Debra Ryan, Katie Robbins, and Linda and Bill Custard.
For more information regarding Silver Supper 2017, contact Marin Fiske-Rankin, 214.922.1295 or SilverSupper@dma.org.