Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Dali exhibit and gala prove dazzling

Elizabeth Foyt

Wednesday, March 8, 2000 | 9:01 a.m.

Elizabeth Foyt's social column appears Wednesdays. Reach her at elizabethfoyt.prodigy.net.

There's a passion, an exuberance to Salavador Dali's body of work that matches the vitality of our city. Dali's Millennium Exhibition opened at the Las Vegas Art Museum with a splendid gala, a most appropriate welcome for the the collection of 500 privately held pieces. This is no frothy overview of works by the master of surrealism. Rather, it is a celebration of his vast talents as exhibited in the displayed bronzes, watercolors, lithographs, tapestries, etchings and portraits, each reflecting his unique perspective spanning six decades of artistic endeavor.

In all likelihood, Dali, who died in 1989, would have adored the splashy party, which announced the arrival of his art in Las Vegas. Opening with a private reception hosted by Mayor Oscar Goodman and his lovely wife, Carolyn, the champagne gathering was a fitting introduction to special guest Lorenzo Gonzales, consul general of Spain, and an opportunity for thanks and applause from Ed and Nancy Bernstein, Fran Fine, Angie Wallin, state Sen. Dina Titus, Dr. Tom Wright, Edythe Katz Yarchever and Tim and Sherry Quillin. Dali expert Jerry Bengis led a docent tour of the exhibit while Bruce Hochman, the show's organizer/curator/generous museum contributor, spoke of his joy of bringing the exhibit to the spacious setting of the Las Vegas Art Museum.

Glimpsed at the party were Don and Dorothy Kemp, who represented the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center, as well as Mark Weiss, Zoe Brown with Bernice Davison, Yvonne and Gerald Gordon, Phil Peckman, Pamela Benjamin, North Las Vegas City Councilman John Rhodes and longtime museum supporters Jerry and Lotty Polis.

Jerry Ehrens, president of the LVAM Trustees, was just one of many who dined happily on the delectable hors d'oeuvres prepared by Nevada Nick's, as well as the seafood paella prepared by Chef Tommy Bridwell of Coyote Cafe and other temptations provided by Regent Las Vegas, Joel Leavitt's Catering and Southern Wine and Spirits of Southern Nevada. Executive Chef Kevin Graham, who once met and served Dali in Nice, coordinated the dining experience.

Mingling with friends while touring the exhibit were artists Vija Hamilton and John Pacheco, as well as Joseph Milligan, Lynn and Mark Kriechbaumer, Kurt Bjorkman, Dr. Carol Harter, Bob Bishoff, Debbie Levy and Gloria Sturhman (trustee of the Las Vegas Library Board), with Nancy Allf, Sharon Emmerman and Liz Foley.

Entertainers contribute

Enriching our children's education can take various avenues, as exhibited by the many who responded to the call for volunteers during Nevada Reading Week. Entertainer Clint Holmes and comedy magician Mac King, both performers in separate shows at Harrah's, spent a morning with the young children at Manny Cortez Elementary. Residents now, and parents themselves, the men believe in giving back to the community and have committed to further classroom visits for the school's many disadvantaged students.

On an similar note, staffers at the Clark County Public Education Foundation wish to remind high school seniors and their parents about the scholarship opportunities now available. This year more than $75,000 will be awarded to 83 Clark County School District seniors who plan to attend college or other accredited post-secondary programs. These scholarships are awarded through 21 different programs with varying qualifications, including specified college majors, children of specific trade groups and overcoming personal challenges or adversities.

Applications are available through the counseling offices at each high school, online through the foundation website at www.ccpef.org. or by calling the office at 799-1042.

Good knights

A royal evening indeed, the recent 2000 Imperial Byzantine Investiture and Ball was held at Paris Las Vegas and celebrated the formal knighting of six humanitarians from Las Vegas.

Those invested were Sharon Henderson McNair, Toni Aileen Hart, Jack Weinstein and Viscount Guy Rogert Deiro, into the Order of St. John; and Mary Leon-Vail and Rainier Wilhelm Gund into the Order of St. George. Members of such Orders of Chivalry devote their lives to charities, host events throughout the year to raise funds and seek to recognize those who have contributed to the less fortunate.

His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Henri Constantine De Vigo Paleologo and his wife, Princess Franciose (of Cannes, France), presided over the investiture and ball, personally welcoming the new honorees and greeting their many international guests. Candidates were blessed by the Archimandrite Nikoali Soraich of the St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church. Sharing their best wishes were fellow Las Vegans previously knighted, among them Sandy and Roger Peltyn, Michael and Clair Zeto, Michele Berk, Edward and Caroline Swindle, Peter Jaramillo and Drs. Ted and Parvin Modaber-Jacobs.

Guido Robert and Joan Deiros, in arranging the glamorous ball, continued with their personal crusade to support Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer, a Southern Nevada organization led by board president Cathi Poer Smith. The Deiros' obvious appreciation of music shone through in their planning of the elaborate affair, which provided one of the most magnificent programs assembled in this city.

The soaring splendor of soprano Demetra George and tenor Stephen Plummer was matched note for note by the Le Orchestre de Ville Luminaire. Further crowning the evening was the Nevada Opera Theatre Chorus, directed by Eileen Hayes, and the magic of Karen Gott's harp solos. Complementing the grandeur of this event in the Paris ballroom was the multicourse dinner enjoyed by Sandy and Dr. Lonnie Hammargren, Jolynn Deiro, Howard Jochsberger, Chantal Cloobeck, Dr. Pam Moore, Bill McNair, Sandra Swindle and Eric Bonatti.

Also attending were Dan and Denise Reichartz, who spoke of his new business venture, TravelSwitch.com, with friends James and Sandee Comito, Tim Medick and Debbie Pope. Jennifer Simich, attending with her aunt, Shelby Johns, as well as her cousin Jackie Johns and Joe Ayerson, was among the guests speaking with Bruce Chapman, a former Runnin' Rebel who now serves as development director for the Candlelighters.