Neon by David Hutson at Laumeier
Sculpture Park - September 22, 2018
Lauren Ross is just getting her toe in the water as
the new executive director at Laumeier Sculpture Park. Among Ross’ accomplishments: she served as
curator of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute for Contemporary Art in
Richmond, curator/director of arts programs at the High Line in New York City
and curator at Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art. Less than two months into her new job, she finds herself host to
Laumeier Sculpture Park’s annual fundraiser: A Night of Neon, The Big Dinner. A tent houses tables set for hundreds of supporters of the sculpture park who are accustomed to some sort of annual outdoor fundraising/gala at this time of year. The
weather is just starting to act like the beginning of autumn on a clear cool nite.
Thanks to the 2018
Kranzberg Exhibition Series, David Hutson’s exhibition Memory & Desire: A Personal
Exploration of Neon Art, Past and Present serves as a focus of electricity in
and around the evening. Midway toward the south lawn, a Hutson neon installation featuring a quote from Wendell Berry’s book of poems.
WHEN I RISE UP, LET ME RISE UP JOYFUL LIKE A BIRD. WHEN I FALL, LET ME FALL
WITHOUT REGRET LIKE A LEAF. This is an apt bit of inspiration for all of us
with great ambition for this jewel in Sunset Hills.
Allison & John
Ferring, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg and Carol & Michael Staenberg are
sponsors along with The Aronson Foundation, Commerce Bank, PNC Arts Alive,
Wells Fargo, Washington University Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts
and Thompson Street Capitol Partners. Beginning with cocktails and hors
d’oeuvres at 6:00 p.m. and a meet & greet with the artist the event rolled
smoothly into a lovely evening dinner.
Honorary Chairs; Alison
Ferring, Matt Harvey, Mary Ann Srenco and Susan Werrenmeyer; all stepped up to
make everyone (including the new director) feel at home. Mary Ann Srenco is proud of her long standing involvement with this place. Her love of Laumeier dates back to visiting the park as a little girl with her active docent mother (Nancy Kranzberg).
The host committee
included a list of names of some many will recognize as long time supporters of
Laumeier Sculpture Park. I was happy to see a
healthy representation of our docent corps present as well. There were stories
of recent tours with groups as diverse as Washington University Architecture
Students, inner-city youth groups, visitors
from Louisville, Kentucky, high school seniors from a creative writing class
and fifth graders. The evening began with scores of high schoolers posing for prom
pictures. It ended with valet parking attendants scrambling to retrieve cars for our distinguished guests to exit the event. It was apparent that the future looks bright
as neon at Laumeier Sculpture Park. In the days ahead, Lauren
will be sorting out strategic initiatives and priorities for this regional gem dedicated
to art and nature. I hope she will be joyful like a bird and rise. At the same time, I also hope
she will be fearless with no regrets.
Lauren Ross, Laumeier Sculpture Park Executive Director
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