The Dallas Museum of Art announced that a net profit of $480,000 was raised at the 2017 Silver Supper benefiting the Museum’s Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment Fund. The 25th annual Silver Supper was chaired by Rusty Duvall and Peggy Sewell, honoring the 75th Anniversary of the Hoblitzelle Foundation.
Upon arrival, more than 250 patrons were welcomed by co-chairs Duvall and Sewell, Agustín Arteaga, the DMA’s Eugene McDermott Director, Melissa Fetter, chairman of the DMA Board of Trustees, and Catherine Marcus Rose, president of the DMA Board of Trustees.
As patrons in black-tie attire made their way down the Museum’s concourse, cocktail tables were placed throughout with silver linens and centerpieces of silver mint julep cups with white garden roses and soft green foliage. The Dallas String Quartet played as partygoers mingled and enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Draped in silver velvet, the Hamon foyer featured two beautiful full-length portraits of Esther and Karl Hoblitzelle as well as the evening’s signature piece, the Covered Cup created by Paul de Lamerie, one of Europe’s finest 18th century silversmiths. The nearby Atrium, which was set for dinner, was hidden to guests by a custom fretwork screen.
At the appointed time, the screens were opened to reveal both long and round tables dressed in silver silk linens. The focal point on each table was a selection from the DMA’s permanent silver collection displayed atop plinths covered in tea roses or white delphiniums. A stage, with pianist Bob Goodwin, was centered in the room and surround by large-scale trees created out of seasonal foliage and branches, which evoked the feel of an outdoor garden.
As guests took their seats, co-chairs Duvall and Sewell welcomed everyone to the 25th anniversary of the Silver Supper and celebration of the Hoblitzelle Foundation’s 75th anniversary. They announced that in recognition of these two milestone events, the Hoblitzelle Foundation was generously underwriting the entire evening so that all of the funds raised by the event would go directly to the Museum’s Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment Fund.
They then asked attendees to please join them in recognizing the Hoblitzelle Foundation with applause, for not only the outstanding collection of English and Irish silver that they so generously donated to the Museum in 1987, but also for their ongoing and continued support.
Agustín Arteaga followed and began by extending his gratitude to Rusty Duvall and Peggy Sewell for their “wonderful vision, excellent taste and dedication that created the magical setting.” He also welcomed everyone in attendance including The Honorable Mike Rawlings and his wife Micki Rawlings, Hoblitzelle Foundation board members, Dallas Museum of Art board members, former Silver Supper chairmen, former attendees and newcomers to the event.
He shared that the Silver Supper began modestly without a formal host and with eighteen patrons in attendance, raising $7,000. Since then the event has continued to flourish, and not only spotlights the Museum’s outstanding holdings in the decorative arts, but also has now established itself as one of the Museum’s four signature fundraisers. Under the leadership of Duvall and Sewell, a record amount has been raised for this milestone year.
He echoed earlier recognition of the Hoblitzelle Foundation, whose gift of silver in 1987 created the beginning of the Museum’s renowned silver collection and helped to establish a foundation upon which the Museum’s decorative arts and design program has developed. Over the last twenty-five years, the Foundation has contributed millions to the Museum in support of decorative arts projects, programs and new construction.
In closing, he disclosed that Mrs. Hoblitzelle cherished her silver collection for its beauty, but she also valued it for the pleasure of its use. The collection of silver she and Karl amassed was used at their famous dinner parties in Dallas in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He then asked everyone to enjoy dining in a style similar to that of the Hoblitzelle-era as dinner service began.
Guests enjoyed the first course of Maine lobster salad with celery branch watermelon radish, horseradish compressed cucumbers and a remesco vinaigrette, followed by a second course of Black Angus beef tenderloin with a port wine demi, served with truffle oil Duchesse potatoes, baby artichokes, king trumpet mushrooms and asparagus.
Prior to dessert, John Dayton, chairman of the Hoblitzelle Foundation Board of Directors, also thanked all involved in creating a wonderful evening in honor of the Foundation’s 75th anniversary. He then gave an overview of the long history of giving from the Hoblitzelle Foundation to the DMA. In closing, he recognized the six retiring Foundation directors who will move to the Honorary Lifetime Director position including, Bill Solomon, Caren Prothro, Don Williams, Kern Wildenthal, Deedie Rose and Linda Custard, and welcomed five new trustees: Karen Shuford, Jerry Thompson, Jr., Daniel Podolsky, Lydia Novakov and Catherine Marcus Rose.
Hoblitzelle Foundation president Paul Harris followed and shared that as he approached retirement after 32 years with the Foundation, that the board asked him to write a history book of Mr. Hoblizelle and the Foundation. The book, entitled The Philanthropy of Karl Hoblitzelle and the First 75 Years of the Hoblitzelle Foundation was completed, and everyone in attendance received a copy with a special bookplate as their take-home gift.
As dessert was served, Melissa Fetter, chairman of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, took the podium for a final toast to the Hoblitzelle Foundation for their long-standing support. With all guests glasses champagne flutes filled, she asked all to join her in raising their glasses in honor of the Foundation’s 75th anniversary.
Among the guests in attendance were: Rusty and Bill Duvall; Peggy and Carl Sewell; Patricia and Paul Harris; Agustín Arteaga; Margaret McDermott; Catherine and Will Rose; Melissa and Trevor Fetter; Gayle and Paul Stoffel; Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr.; Annette Simmons and Jerry Fronterhouse; Kelli and Allen Questrom; Gay and Bill Solomon; Katie Robbins; Ann and Lee Hobson; Rebecca and Barron Fletcher; Lydia and Dan Novakov; Lindsay and Ray Ballotta; Capera Ryan; Deedie Rose; Kelli and Jerry Ford; Kimberly and Justin Whitman; Bradbury Dyer, III; Lisa and John Runyon; Merry and Chad Vose; Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich; Sheila and Jody Grant; Jennifer and Tom Karol; Ruth and Ken Altshuler; and Lynn and Allan McBee.
Since its inception, the Silver Supper has raised more than $1,600,000 for the Decorative Arts Acquisition Endowment Fund. The Silver Supper 2017 donors include: Presenting sponsor – Hoblitzelle Foundation; $25,000 – Gene and Jerry Jones; $20,000 - $24,999 - Rusty and Bill Duvall; The Eugene McDermott Foundation; PlainsCapital Bank; Peggy and Carl Sewell and Gayle and Paul Stoffel; $10,000 - $19,999 – Melissa and Trevor Fetter; Jerry Fronterhouse and Annette Simmons; Mary and Bo Howard; J. F. Maddox Foundation and W. W. Lynch Foundation; Vicki and Brian Miller; Lesa and John Oudt; Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr.; and Vaughn O. Vennerberg II; $5,000 - $9,999 - Kathy and Gene Bishop; Melanie and Tim Byrne; CES-Holdings; Louise and Guy Griffeth; Jere W. Thompson, Jr.; Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation; and Elizabeth and Carl Webb; $2,000 - $4,999 - Elaine and Neils Agather; Ruth and Ken Altshuler; Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller; Jean and Jim Barrow; Nancy and Clint Carlson; Mary Anne Cree; Mason and Allen Custard; Nancy M. Dedman; Claire Dewar; Bradbury Dyer III; Jennifer and John Eagle; Laura and Walter Elcock; Bess and Ted Enloe; Ewing Automotive Group;
$2,000 - $4,000 sponsors continued: Jody and Sheila Grant; Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich; Julie and Ed Hawes; Ann and Lee Hobson; Ruth and Stephen Hodge; Patty and James Huffines; Jennifer and Tom Karol; Mary Noel and Bill Lamont; Phyllis Lapham; Barbara Thomas Lemmon; Nancy Cain Marcus; Charlene C. and Tom F. Marsh; Erin D. Mathews; Susan and Bill Montgomery; Dian Moore; Margot and Ross Perot/Perot Foundation; J. Holland Powell Gallagher Benefit Services; Allen and Kelli Questrom; Carolyn and Karl Rathjen; Deedie Rose; Catherine and Will Rose; Lisa and John Runyon; Nancy Shutt; Southwestern Medical Foundation; Jo and Andre Staffelbach; and Sharon and Michael Young.
About the Dallas Museum of Art
Established in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is among the 10 largest art museums in the country and is distinguished by its commitment to research, innovation, and public engagement. At the heart of the Museum and its programs is its global collection, which encompasses more than 23,000 works and spans 5,000 years of history, representing a full range of world cultures. Located in the nation’s largest arts district, the Museum acts as a catalyst for community creativity, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds with a diverse spectrum of programming, from exhibitions and lectures to concerts, literary events, and dramatic and dance presentations. Since the Museum’s return to free general admission in 2013, the DMA has welcomed more than two million visitors and enrolled more than 100,000 people in DMA Friends,a free program available to anyone who wishes to join focused on active engagement with the Museum. For more information, visit DMA.org.
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