The Social Diary – Dr. Schwab reveals ancient portrait secrets; MCASD gala goes galactic

LA JOLLA – Urban Kitchen Group provided the out-of-this-world appetizers and dinner for the science and space-inspired gala, HORIZONS, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego.

Among the starry crowd were scientists and philanthropists with big support for MCASD’s mission to outreach to all.

Past celeb supporters of the museum were actors Tim Curry and Dennis Hopper, and artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, all of whom I had the pleasure of meeting through my friend, David C. Copley. Dave was a big museum supporter; his name lives on currently through the top MCASD official, Kathryn Kanjo, who is the David C. Copley Director. P.S.- Scene-stealer at the gala, the photo robot!

Earlier that week, Dr. Katherine A. Schwab, professor emerita of art history and visual culture, Fairfield University, held her first of three lectures at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. The topic, Decoding Portraits from Antiquity, was chosen as “portraits are familiar to us, whether candid or carefully edited with today’s technologies,” Schwab said.

“Power and authority created an almost uniform appearance of the ruler in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Individuality emerged in ancient Greece and flourished during the Roman period.”

Among the guests were Dr. Kathleen Schwarz, Gary Ferdman, Christie Mitchell, Dr. Marsha Chandler, and Maria Munroe. Next lecture is the ninth on Greek portraits, and the 16th on Roman portraits.

See you there!