Desmond-Fish Library hosts benefit luncheon
The Desmond-Fish Library presents a benefit luncheon featuring Philippe de Montebello, director emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Glenn Lowry, current director of The Museum of Modern Art, beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, at The Garrison.
The program will include the presentation of the library’s Hamilton Fish Award to de Montebello, in recognition of his unique contributions to the protection and advancement of culture and national heritage. This presentation will be followed by a conversation between de Montebello and Lowry. Seating is limited but the full program will be available via free live stream on the library’s website (desmondfishlibrary.org) for anyone unable to attend.
This year’s program will be the third in the series of annual benefit luncheons that the library has hosted. Past honorees have included Gary Knell (former director of NPR) and Theodore Stebbins Jr. (curator of American Art at Harvard’s Fogg Museum). Hara J. Schwarz, M.D., Chris Buck, Ann P. Cabot, Sandra Harper, Hamilton Fish, Frederic C. Rich, and Diana and Jonathan Rose serve as benefit committee co-chairs.
de Montebello is Fiske Kimball Professor in the History and Culture of Museums at the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU. He retired at the end of 2008 from the Metropolitan Museum of Art after serving for 31 years as its longest tenured director. He is the Met’s first director emeritus.
In 2009, de Montebello became the first scholar in residence at the Prado Museum in Madrid, and named to its board of trustees; until recently, he was on the board of the Musée d’Orsay. de Montebello is co-host of the Emmy award-winning, prime time program on PBS, NYC Arts. He holds a B.A. in art history from Harvard University and an M.A. from NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts, and honorary degrees from NYU, Harvard University, and Dartmouth College.
Lowry became the sixth director of The Museum of Modern Art in 1995. He leads a staff of 750 and directs a multi-dimensional program of exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications. His major initiatives over the past 14 years include guiding MOMA’s $900 million capital campaign for the renovation and expansion of the museum, building its endowment and reinvigorating MOMA’s contemporary art program. A strong advocate of contemporary art, Lowry conceived and initiated the museum’s successful merger with P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in 1999.
In his lectures he challenges conventional thinking about modern art, and he has written extensively in support of contemporary art and artists, and the role of museums in society. He received a B.A. degree magna cum laude from Williams College, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in the history of art from Harvard University.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the library at 845-424-3020 or visit the library’s website at desmondfishlibrary.org/luncheon.
The Alice Curtis Desmond and Hamilton Fish Library, located at the intersection of Routes 9D and 403 in Garrison, was founded in 1980. The library is a member of the Mid-Hudson Library System and serves both Garrison and the surrounding community. The mission of the library is to provide improved access to the world of social and cultural ideas by offering a wide variety of materials and programs. The library has a special interest in the art and history of the region, and a dedication to encouraging a love of books, reading and learning in young children and their parents.
