News | April 19, 2013

LACMA Raises Over $3 Million for New Works During Collectors Committee Weekend

News | April 19, 2013

By Laura Schreffler, Editor-in-Chief

It was a successful weekend for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as the museum has now acquired nine new pieces through its 28th annual Collectors Committee fundraiser.

Over $3 million was raised to procure items like one of the oldest surviving wood sculptures from Africa and a 10th-century Korean Buddha, as well as contemporary contemporary by Thomas Demand, Susan Hefuna, Julio Le Parc, and James Turrell.

As the icing on the cake, so to speak, sponsor JPMorgan announced gifts of a photograph from Robert Frank’s series “The Americans” and a portfolio of seventy-five works on paper by Ed Ruscha, “Stains.”

The Collectors Committee Weekend brings together 72 members of a patronage group that votes on the acquisition of new pieces for the museum. Those who attended Saturday’s gala included Francis and Eleanor Coppola, chef Thomas Keller, LACMA director Michael Govan, board of trustees co-chairs Andrew Gordon and Terry Semel and trustees Willow Bay (with husband Robert Iger), Lynda Resnick (with husband Stewart), Lyn Lear (with husband Norman), Jamie McCourt, Brian Grazer, Bryan Lourd, Steve Tisch and Carole Bayer Sager and committee chair Ann Colgin. Diane Keaton and Kyle MacLachlan also attended a breakfast pitch session.

The cultured guests were rewarded for their artistic propositions with a gourmet menu from Patina’s Joachim Splichal of roasted prime tenderloin steak in a cabernet demi sauce, charred parsnip agnolotti, and a chocolate passion mousse cake. Wine was provided by Colgin Cellars, Landmark Vineyards and Merry Edwards Winery.

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