Every year, around this time, the Philadelphia Museum of Art comes to New York City to publicize its upcoming season, and each year it holds a luncheon at a swanky place that makes us journalists drool, not only because of the exquisite food and drink served (see menu below), but also the museum’s Power Point presentations are elegantly crafted, arousing even the most dormant minds of the deadest scribes. The museum’s ultimate goal—collegiality aside—is to entice the art press corps to travel to Philly to cover their various exhibitions.

Left: Detail, grand chandelier, French Consulate, NYC. Photo: Leigh Moser (2013). artes fine arts magazine

This year, the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s luncheon was held on Tuesday, June 25th, at the New York City’s French Consulate. The elegantly-presented event was served in formal French style, by caterer, Tastings, with their cadre of the most handsome waiters. It was certainly an event that Marie Antionette would have loved.

The room, with paintings lining the walls and richly-embellished ceiling, and a splendidly luminous Versailles-worthy crystal chandelier, set the tone for the occasion. The luncheon, itself, was not without its posh touches, as the wait staff, with theatrical, military-style precision—numbering six-per-table of nine—stood straight-backed, with one hand behind their back, the other holding the next serving, as they encircled each table and, in unison, presented plates to some-hundred-or-more seated guests.

Unlike other museums which often have their presenters get down to the task of presenting as invitees eat, the Philadelphia Museum of Art took the civilized approach, allowing us all time to savor our food, imbibe fine wines, and get to know our tablemates, before the speakers of the afternoon began. Introductions were by Tim Rub, the museum’s director and a Liam Neeson look-alike. What made this luncheon different from the others is that everybody knows—or should know by now—that the city of Philadelphia, though always an art destination of sorts, has leap-frogged over both Boston and Chicago. Particularly now, with the relocation of the Barnes Foundation in city center, Philly has positioning itself—after New York and Los Angeles—as the third-most important visual arts destination in the country.

To punctuate this game change, Paula Butler, Vice President of Communications for Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (right), explained that, With Art Philadelphia, the city’s two year old, first-ever coordinated visual arts marketing campaign, aimed at generating sustained attention on the world class riches that Philadelphia has to offer. The campaign encourages visitors to curate their own Philadelphia art experiences—something easily done by logging onto www.visitphilly.com/withart. This interactive website enables visitors to travel along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway—Philadelphia’s version of Museum Mile—with the help of an interactive map, to curate their own itineraries, peruse blockbuster events and exhibit listings, find hotel accommodations, and more.

While food, drink, and good cheer held sway, and 200 VIP mouths chatted away, the room fell silent as curator Anna Vallye, a demure beauty of Ukrainian descent, took to the podium to talk about the museum’s up and coming Léger: Modern Art and the Metropolis (October 14, 2013 – January 5, 2014), an exhibition that took years of planning to get off the ground. Aided and abetted by many wonderful paintings, the exhibition is sure to enhance the importance of Leger and his avant-garde colleagues, in the eyes of those scholars who remainl interested in widening the so-called canon. Following Vallye’s knockout presentation—admittedly a hard act to follow—was exhibition assistant, John Vick’s lively presentation, again with many photos, describing, The Surrealists: Works From The Collections (November 3, 2013 – March 2, 2014), which will be a cozy, side-bar exhibition, opening a few weeks after Léger at the museum’s special exhibitions gallery, in the Perelman Building. John Vick also previewed Barbara Chase-Riboud’s, The Malcolm X Steles, in the Modern and Contemporary Galleries  from September 14–December 8, 2013.  All ‘must see’ exhibitions are sure to offer a public WOW factor.

Above, left: Anna Vallye, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow, Modern and Contemporary Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

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Just to entice readers further, I offer up the menu served in the elegant French Consulate dining room:

 Le Dejeunner, catered by Tastings  www.tastingsnyc.com

Seared Wild Striped Bass, with Carrot Gnocchi, Fennel Confit, Hon Shimeji Mushroom, Sugar Snap Bari, and fish sauce (cote du Rhone)

Wine: White Wine : Bourgogne, Chardonnay, 2011, Pierre Andre (producer); Red Wine : Chateau Bellevue Lugagnac, Bordeaux Superieur, 2010

Dessert: Strawberry Meringue and Mascarpone Napoleon Berry Marshmallow Yogurt Sorbet

Mignardises

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Author’s Note: The Philadelphia Museum of Art fall exhibitions, Léger: Modern Art and the Metropolis.October14, 2013–January 5, 2014 and The Surrealists: Works From the Collection, November 3, 2013–March 2, 2014, will be reviewed by ARTES as the time for the shows approaches. Watch ARTES’s Feature Articles section for in-depth perspectives on the museum exhibits and these early 20th century artists.

For general information, call 215-763-8100, or visit the Museum’s website at www.philamuseum.org .

Other museum staff and guests at the press event included:

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 Left: Alice O. Beamesderfer, Deputy Director for Collections and Programs at the Philadelphia  Museum of Art.

 

Right: Norman A. Keyes Jr., Director of Communications, Philadelphia Museum of Art.

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 Left: Karen Wilkin, Art Historian, Writer, Curator, Teacher

 

 Right: Valery Oisteanu, Writer, Poet, Performer

 

 

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 Left: Jason Kaufman, Art Critic, Reporter, Photographer, Teacher

 

 Right: Phyllis Tuchman, Art Historian, Curator, Writer

 

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 Left: Cynthia Nadelman, Writer, Poet