Fraternity-Testvériség, 2009 (87. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2009-01-01 / 1. szám
i ■ i FEATURE ARTICLE FOUNDER, SUSAN G. KOMÉN FOR THE CURE® CHAMPIONS HUNGARIAN ART IN UNITED STATES AND ABROAD Founder of Susan G. Komén for the Cure, the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and advocates, former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and former U.S. Chief of Protocol, Nancy G. Brinker along with her son Eric Brinker, opened an exhibit of Hungarian art at the Phoenix Art Museum on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. The exhibit entitled "Art for the Cure: Hungarian Modernism from the Nancy G. Brinker Collection" was made up of pieces from Ambassador Brinker's private collection and features well-known artists who are being introduced to new audiences in one of America's premier and newest art galleries. Artists include Pál Szinyei Merse, János Vaszary, Béla Kádár, Béla Czóbel, Béla Uitz, Róbert Berény, Imre Szobotka, Jószef Nemes-Lampérth, Sándor Bortnyik, Jenő Gábor, István Szőnyi, Vilmos Aba-Novák, André Kertész, László Moholy-Nagy, and Lajos Vajda. As part of the "Extremely Hungary" Events currently on view in 2009 the exhibit has moved to the Forbes Galleries in New York City and can be seen there through March 28th, 2009, but has been retitled "Great Paintings, Small Masterpieces: Selection of Early 20th Century Hungarian Art from the Nancy G. Brinker Collection." Attending the grand weekend of Art for the Cure™ events was Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi and his wife, Andrea B. Somogyi; Ambassador Consul for Hungary, Balázs Bokor; Texas Honorary Consul Phillip Aronoff and Mrs. Aronoff; Croatian Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, and notables from other nations. Ambassador Somogyi remarked that Ambassador Brinker is a most remarkable woman because even after her tenure as Ambassador, she still promotes Hungarian artistic talent and brings their work to new audiences throughout the world. He concluded, "On behalf of ten million Hungarians, we express our gratitude and have made her an honorary lifetime Hungarian." The private dinner and tour of the exhibit was attended by the local media, professional art collectors from Los Angeles, New York, and Europe, and supporters and staff of Susan G. Komén for the Cure®. Ambassador Brinker admitted that her passion for Hungarian art began at a most difficult time in American history. She arrived a few days after September 11, 2001 By Kathy A. Megyeri to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Hungary. She had arranged for a magnificent collection of twentieth- century American women artists to be exhibited in the Ambassador's residence. The exhibition had been gathered for her by the U.S. Department of State "Art in Embassies" Program, but shipping issues caused delays. Thus, she asked her friend, historian and art consultant István Rozsics if some contemporary artists in Budapest would like to display their works in the American residence. As Brinker viewed those works by the above- mentioned artists day after day, she grew to appreciate, she said, the "richness and power of the works and their historic and emotional qualities." She wanted to know more about them and increase her knowledge about Hungarian art in general. She saw the "Art in Embassies" Program as a way to carry on the tradition of the cultural exchange and to personalize her connection with Hungary. So, with Rozsics's help and other auction house owners to whom she was introduced, she began building her personal collection of Hungarian art. The Honorable Mrs. Brinker readily and willingly explains her love of these works, "Despite Hungary's stormy twentieth-century history, its artistic tradition has remained strong and consistent, even experiencing revivals. Most of the early Hungarian modernists studied and exhibited in France and Germany, some in the U.S., and some in Italy and Austria. However, few had access to international markets, and few gained the recognition they deserved for their contributions, which was much more valuable than generally acknowledged. "My explorations were rewarded by an artistic tradition that is familiar, surprising and highly energetic but not without melancholy. These Hungarian artists depict strong structures with strong color but that still reveal a 8 SPRING 2009
