Members and friends of the Stephens College Alumnae Club of Dallas gathered recently at the Dallas Country Club for their annual fundraiser, honoring Houston philanthropist Dr. Carolyn Farb.  It was an afternoon to celebrate the Stephens tradition of excellence in the creative arts and sciences and to raise funds for a new building for the Physician’s Assistant program. Stephens College is the second-oldest women’s college in the country.

Upon arrival, guests including Lloyd & Gayle Benson, III (Son of Senator Lloyd Benson, Jr.), Carolyn McCammon, Dr. Christi Harris, Shirlee and John Jamail of Houston, Frances Dare, Susan Ingram, Melinda Kardon and Regina Villa, sipped wine and enjoyed bidding in the silent auction for Mavs tickets, original art, pearls, designer children’s clothing from Helena & Harry IV Co. and much more, before moving on to the program.

Celebrated Dallas sportscaster Scott Murray welcomed everyone and introduced Dr. Monica P. McMurry, Dean of the School of Design.  Dr. McMurry proudly shared that the fashion program at Stephens is rated one of the top five in the nation by The Business of Fashion, a London-based fashion news agency, and it is also the only institution listed in all three international rankings given by BOF.

Dr. McMurry went on to honor Dr. Carolyn Farb, hc, for the exquisite gowns she has donated to the Costume Museum and Research Library fashion collection. “The collection dates to 1700 and houses over 13,000 items of dress,” said Dr. McMurry. “It depends solely on generous donations from alumnae, friends and collectors like Carolyn to provide research data via the element of clothing to study the lives of women,” she added. Three of Carolyn Farb’s gowns were on display and drew an enthusiastic response from everyone.

Dr. Carolyn Farb is Houston’s premier fundraiser, author, art patron and philanthropist, who is committed to volunteerism for the greater good.  Known for her sense of style she is often described as a walking work of art, and she has been the muse to many well-known designers such as Donna Karen, James Galanos, and Bill Blass. Dr. Farb is also keen to embrace young, new design/art talent.  In acknowledging Dr. McMurry’s remarks she said, “If I had it to do all over again, I would be a Stephens alumna.  Why?  Top Fashion Department in the country, cool Film Festival called Citizen Jane, and the pet-friendliest campus in the country!  The campus spirit gives one the wings to soar.”

The program continued with a video produced by Scott Murray, Murray Media, which highlighted the history of Stephens College and the Stephens Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program and its new building with a state-of-the art anatomy lab, and high-tech classrooms.

Finally, Keynote Speaker Ken LaZebnik, a Hollywood screenwriter and Founder and Director of the Stephens College MFA Program in Television and Screenwriting, spoke about the Low-Residency program in Los Angeles and the successes of the students. LaZebnik wrote the Lionsgate film Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage, released in 2008, starring Peter O’Toole and Marcia Gay Harden. He showed a clip of the film and told a moving story about Peter O’Toole, which delighted the audience.

Guests then enjoyed lunch with lovely floral arrangements by Freesia Florist before concluding the afternoon with spirited bidding in the live auction which included getaway stays at the Benson’s Broadleaf Farm House, a Bungalow in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, a Townhouse in Jackson Hole, and a Padre Island Condo.

Established in 1833, Stephens College is the second-oldest women’s college in the country. Stephens College welcomes both women and men into all of its graduate programs. The College’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program is a revitalization of its PA program first offered in 1975, one of the first such programs in the country.

20cDesign presents a “Celebrate Fall” party featuring the early work of noted fiber artist Jane Knight. This collection of wall hangings and fiber sculptures hasn’t been seen since 1977 when it was presented at the San Francisco Galleria Design Center Exposition “Art Fabric ’77: The Contemporary American Tapestry.” “We acquired these works directly from the personal collection of the Knight family where they were recently found in storage,” says Barry Gream, Founder of 20cDesign gallery in the Dallas design district.  “The rich fall colors of these pieces make a perfect backdrop in the gallery to celebrate the change in season and look forward to cooler temperatures,” says Co-Founder Ryan Rucker. 

This festive FREE evening with delicious sips and bites is from 6-9 pm on Saturday, September 17 at the 20cDesign gallery, 1430 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207. An RSVP is requested to RSVP@20cDesign.com. 

Art and design enthusiasts have the chance to come out and see one of the 20^th century’s noted fiber artists in one of Dallas’ top galleries that is devoted to mid-century modern furniture and design. 

The interest in mid-century modern architecture that has been trending for the past several years has also rekindled an interest in textiles and crafts from the same period. However, these are not your mother’s macramé pot hangers from the 70’s. Knight (1928-2013) hand crafted her sculptural wall hangings and artworks by wrapping hundreds of yards of colored woolen strands around heavy lengths of jute to create sophisticated decorative pieces.  She received her BFA in Art from the University of Michigan and was personal friends with some of the iconic architects of the 20^th century -- Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson -- and held dinner parties at her home which they attended. Jane Knight also taught in the theater department at the prestigious Cranbrook School.  See her full bio below.

About Jane Knight

Jane Knight (1928-2013) was born in Grosse Pointe and received her BFA from the University of Michigan, School of Art and Architecture in 1951. After graduation, she worked as the Art Director for the Detroit-based luxury department store JL Hudsons and designed for the Cranbrook Theater School. Due to her husband’s employment at Eero Saarinen and Associates she was embraced by a community of cutting-edge designers and architects at the epicenter of the modernism movement including Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard, to name a few.

She was an avid world traveler who always viewed the world magically with her creative eye. As an art collector herself, she highly regarded the work of Alexander Calder and Henri Matisse. Her body of work is a product of her perpetual need to create art and a constant conviction that one’s home should be a continual environmental stimulus. Her wall hangings, which are considered to be her most important works, were created by wrapping brightly colored woolen strands around heavy lengths of jute. Like many of the other three dimensional textiles her works reflect the colorful, textural exuberance that was characteristic of fiber art during the 1970s. Throughout her career, she created freestanding, wall-mounted, and suspended fiber pieces for interior environments and stage sets. Her work has been featured in books on fiber design, widely exhibited in galleries in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, and included in several corporate collections including Borge Warner and Chrysler.

About 20cDesign

Born out of a sincere love for Modernism 20cdesign has been buying and selling extraordinary examples of classic 20th century design since our inception in 1998. It is our desire to develop lasting business relationships with designers and collectors from around the globe. We invite you to visit our award-winning gallery in the heart of the Dallas design district where you will discover a uniquely curated selection of furniture, fine art and decorative objects.

Members of the Guild of the Museum of Biblical Art were recently treated to a special Tea in celebration of Valentine’s Day, and the Museum’s upcoming 50^th anniversary on February 23. Guests gathered in the Ballroom for a beautiful tea that was served buffet-style with antique silver and crystal that has been donated by Guild members, and a presentation by long-time museum supporter, Jeanette Korab, professional artist, photographer and jewelry designer. 

Patricia Martin, Director of Development, invited everyone to enjoy the tea and then hear the presentation. Guests included Suzanne Palmlund, Anja Woodson, Laura Sparkman, Patti Sparkman, Roberta Byrd, Paulette Martsolf, Lisa Petty, Cathy Haynes, Mary Ann Bryant, Mary Burnham, Victoria Pittman-Waller and Helen S. Towne. The tea offerings featured a celebratory cake that was topped with a sculptural recreation of the MBA building by Museum Conservator Maria Valentina Sheets. 

After guests had filled their plates and tea cups and enjoyed visiting with one another, Helen S. Towne, Guild President and MBA Board Member welcomed everyone. Scott Peck, Museum Executive Director and Curator, recognized special guest Mrs. Roberta Byrd on the Museum’s 50^th anniversary by saying, “Mrs. Roberta Byrd’s husband, D. Harold Byrd, Jr. is the son of the original founder, Mattie Caruth Byrd, and without his dedication and determination to re-found and rebuild the museum after the fire in 2005, we would have no museum today!” He went on to highlight upcoming events. “We have an exciting year planned with exhibits on the ‘Twelve Tribes of Israel,’ by Marc Chagall,” said Peck, “and we will inaugurate the Mosaic Institute with our second Mosaic Exhibition that will feature work by international artists.” He concluded his remarks by inviting everyone to register for upcoming workshops on creating mosaics and Ukranian Easter eggs. Ms. Martin briefly traced the history of the Museum since its founding on February 23, 1966 and introduced the featured speaker, Jeanette Korab. 

Jeanette Korab, wife of the late artist Vladimir Gorsky, whose immense painting, “Tapestry of the Centuries,” was given to the Museum in 2010, gave a presentation entitled “Biblical Stones and their Historical Meanings.” She pointed out that the twelve gemstones on the Breastplate of Aaron, are probably the most significant stones mentioned in the Bible. She also discussed her travels which have inspired her own career as an artist, photographer and designer and importer of current jewelry and recreations of ancient designs from Turkey. Her jewelry was available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Museum to support their educational programs.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF BIBLICAL ART

The Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, Texas is unlike any museum in the world.  It has a simple mission:  to display art with a Biblical theme.  It is one of the few museums in the country that is devoted to Biblical themes.  It was established in 1966 and named the Museum of Biblical Art in 1999.  Nothing of its size exists in the United States, making it a treasure trove for art enthusiasts. Diverse types of art are exhibited including bronze sculpture installations, drawings, fine prints, and oil paintings. Specialized galleries have been created for Biblical Archaeology, Jewish Art, Religious Architecture, Israeli Art, Women’s Art, African American Art and Hispanic Art.

The Museum is a cultural crossroads, utilizing art for tolerance and understanding reflected in the various archaeological exhibits and decorative art from Israel and the Holy Land. The new National Center for Jewish Art is dedicated to Jewish and Israeli artists, artifacts and ceremonial art. Works by George Tobolowsky, Jacques Lipchitz, Menashe Kadishman, Tobi Kahn, Yigal Ozeri, and Goeffrey Laurence. 

 The MBA's vision encompasses the classical arts with a call to beauty which emphasizes the Biblical figurative art illustrating the narratives of the Bible, and a call to the study of classical Greco-Roman art, archaeology and architecture. Museum featured artists Include:  John Singer Sargent, Marc Chagall, Ben Shahn, Michelangelo, Paolo Veronese, Francesco Guardi, Agam, Kathe Köllwitz, Albert Pinkham Ryder, Emil Nolde, James Tissot, Oskar Kokoschka, Bernard Buffet, Andy Warhol, Everett Shinn, John Marin, and many more. 

The MBA - Museum of Biblical Art 

7500 Park Lane  

Dallas, TX 75225

214-368-4622

Across from the North Park

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 to 5:00  

Late night Thursday until 9:00 PM  

Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  

www.biblicalarts.org

Just before the final 365 Modern  Living Cocktail Reception  on June 17 draws the 2014-15 season of programs for the Dallas Architecture Forum to a close, Forum members will have the opportunity to see another fascinating  home at the annual meeting on June 13, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm.  “Bluffview Porch House” designed by Bill Aylor, AIA, of Lake|Flato Architects and Mary Ellen Cowan, ASLA, of Mesa Design Group Landscape Architects, with interior design by David Cadwallader, ASID, and Courtney Catalfano Terrell, is a simple modular concept that completely  integrates the landscape design into the design of the home, producing a seamless unity as the two design concepts become one.

The Lake| Flato concept, called “Porch House” by the firm, is based on a simple modular concept of one story structures that are 16’ wide with 10’ ceilings, with sloping standing seam roofs and western red cedar siding. Bluffview Porch House was constructed by Nedderman and Associates, and consists of three bedroom modules, a living module, and minimum added conventional construction.

Bluffview Porch House is Lake Flato’s first completed porch house in an urban environment. The residence is oriented around a courtyard of mature trees and then beautifully landscaped to convert the central courtyard into a lush “living room“. The camp-like dwellings, sited and nestled among the trees, sit on a narrow lot and create a hidden gem in an established traditional urban neighborhood. The interior design plan combines new furniture with reupholstered existing furniture using earth tone colors to blend into the porch house concept. Dramatic modern art adds color accents to the design.

This is just one of the many styles and structures that are presented by the Dallas Architecture Forum throughout the year in Lectures, Panel Discussions, Symposia, and Special Events.  The Annual Members’ Meeting is a complimentary benefit of membership, open only to current Forum members. 

To learn more about membership in the Dallas Architecture Forum, go to www.dallasarchitectureforum.org and click on the Membership link.