Artful Gathering for Archives Backers

When you’re associated with the Los Angeles Center of the Archives of American Art of the Smithsonian Institution, luncheons come amid colorful paintings and sculptures. Next week, Mrs. Dwight M. Kendall and some of the 50 women who first met six years ago to find a home for the archives will lunch at the Frederick R. Weisman home surrounded by his acclaimed collection by contemporary artists.

S. Dillon Ripley, secretary emeritus of the Smithsonian, and Mrs. Ripley will be special guests of Archives Director Richard N. Murray and trustee Dona Kendall, who are co-hosting the affair. Sponsoring committee members expected include Mrs. R. Stanton Avery, Mrs. Peter L. Bing, Mrs. Earle M. Jorgensen, Mrs. Franklin D. Murphy, Mrs. F. Daniel Frost, Mrs. Julian Ganz Jr., Mrs. Eli Broad, Mrs. Edward W. Carter, Mrs. Stanley Grinstein, Mrs. Harry Wetzel and Marcia S. Weisman, Weisman’s ex-wife who is also a major collector.

Three years ago the Huntington Library and Art Gallery offered the Archives space in the new Virginia Steele Scott wing. Since then, researchers have been amassing historical and current data on California artists, including doing interviews with Richard Diebenkorn and David Hockney.

SPRING TRA-LA: Spring flowers and gardens conjured up a picnic in the mind of Music Center Blue Ribbon President Keith Kieschnick, so members will lunch alfresco Monday amid the botanical gardens of the Huntington Library and Art Gallery.

Already reservations are stacking up to hear Dr. Robert Middlekauf, the Huntington’s director. Among those who plan to attend are Onnalee Doheny, Juli Hutner, Diane Morton, Jean Smith, Chardee Trainer, Nancy Weakly, Bettina Chandler, Ernestine Avery, Mitzi Robbins and Toni Webb. There will be jubilant toasts: The dedicated Blue Ribbon volunteers have already reached their goal of $1.5 million in donations to the 1987 Music Center Unified Fund campaign.

SAVORING: Twenty-seven master chefs, coordinated by newly named Chef of the Year Roy Yamaguchi of 385 North restaurant, are creating their culinary best for “The Great Chefs of L.A.” benefit May 3 at Le Bel Age Hotel. The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California hopes to raise $45,000. Ed Asner is honorary chairman. Guests at the third annual event will spend the afternoon savoring morsels and sampling the products of 21 wineries. Each restaurant will present a food dish as well as what it considers its most delicious dessert. Tickets are $100 and can be bought in advance (call (213) 641-8152) or at the door.

DANCING-EST: What’s black and white and fun all over? San Francisco’s biggest dance party, the San Francisco Symphony Black and White Ball, which chairwoman Charlotte Mailliard III is whipping into shape for May 1 at the city’s Performing Arts Center. It’s a marathon adventure: The ball begins at 9 p.m. and runs until 4 a.m. throughout the center, the City Hall rotunda and the civic auditorium in San Francisco. In the past, the ball has attracted crowds of 10,000, and since its revival in 1982 it has raised more than $1.7 million for the San Francisco symphony.

Nordstrom, Neiman-Marcus, Saks and Macy’s are donating visual display fantasies in black and white. Leif Bjaland, San Francisco Symphony assistant conductor, will lead the orchestra in waltzes under the City Hall rotunda. But the stellar entertainment lineup also includes the Count Basie Orchestra, Buddy Morrow and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Peter Duchin and his orchestra and nearly a dozen other orchestras, including those of Tito Puente, Greg Kihn, Lester Lanin, Artie Shaw, and rock stars Paul Kantner and Marty Balin.

Tickets are $100, $150, $250 and $350.

Involved in arrangements are Mrs. John R. Upton (who originated the Black and White Ball with musical presentations simultaneously at the Palace, the St. Francis, the Mark Hopkins and the Fairmont), Mrs. Ralph K. Davies and Mrs. Paul L. Wattis. Mrs. John D. Relfe heads the patrons dinner.

PLAUDITS: To architect Charles Luckman, to be honored by Adelphi University at a black-tie dinner at the Plaza in New York City on May 6. . . . To Mrs. Charles Colwell of Sherman Oaks, to be installed as president of the National Charity League Los Angeles founder chapter May 6 at the luncheon at the Beach Club. . . . To Phillip R. Nicholson, who received the National Jewish Humanitarian Award on Wednesday at the Century Plaza from the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine.

TRAVELING: Dr. and Mrs. Norman Sprague Jr. spent Easter with Erlenne’s daughter and son, Lynne and Tom Ashforth, at Cabo San Lucas. . . . The William Wilsons celebrated in Sonora with guests, Harriet and Ardie Deutsch, Mignon and Bill Winans and Virginia Milner. . . .

RED LETTER DATES: Susan Schelling Long and Janet Donovan Casella chair the afternoon “Silver Streak” 25th anniversary Mount St. Mary’s Alumnae luncheon Saturday at the Beverly Wilshire. Gorgissima, the Beverly Hills boutique, presents the show. . . .

Peachy-keen food, heavy boppin’, a whole lotta shakin’--that’s only part of the package chairwoman Susan Chandler, Karen Morrison, Brooke Larsen Garlock, Laney Techentin, Susan Wier, Cheryl Furukawa, Holly Robinson, Pam Boswell, Sandy DeMarco, Sally Cholko, Judy and Chris Brown, Lora Hoshek, Vicki Tongish and Bonnye Sirk are tying with a bow for Westridge School’s benefit “Band-Stand” Saturday evening at Hoffman Gym. . . .

About 300 young riders from the Western United States are gathering for the 66th annual Children’s Horse Show, April 24-26. The event is sponsored by Flintridge-La Canada Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital at Flintridge Riding Club, 4625 N. Oak Grove Drive. Admission is minimal. However, the benefit dinner Friday evening (reservations necessary) and breakfasts and a champagne brunch Sunday are expected, along with the food stands, to raise funds for the guild’s two-year commitment to furnish the hospital with a $100,000 neurosurgical microscope.

BUSY TOWN: Rain or shine, Santa Monica Auxiliary to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles will feature five special Westside gardens on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Jane Ruck is chairman. Helen Gilmour Neville is assisting. Tickets may be purchased at gardens at 289 Homewood, 141 and 451 N. Bristol Ave., 12928 Evanston St. and 566 E. Channel Road. . . .

The placing of 90 flowering trees on the center strip of Sierra Madre Boulevard will be celebrated with a planting ceremony Saturday on the lawn of LaSalle High School in Pasadena. The trees have been donated by the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum with the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation sponsoring the project and fund-raising drive, and the city of Pasadena planting and maintaining the trees, according to Alice Thomas, project chairwoman. . . .

Harold I. Huttas and Wendy Waldron Brandow co-chair the AIDS Project Los Angeles Art Auction at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Park. Tickets are $75. Works of more than 125 artists, including Sam Francis, John Altoon, Andy Warhol and Ellsworth Kelly will be sold in live and silent auctions. . . . Designer/entrepreneur Gloria Vanderbilt appears Friday at the May Co., South Coast Plaza at noon and at the May Co. South Bay at 3:30 p.m., to introduce her newest endeavor--a fragrance “Glorious.” . . .

El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park always needs wonderful docents. Las Angelitas del Pueblo was organized to provide them. Now, the angels officially celebrate 20 years of service May 17 at Avila Adobe in the patio. Looking for an infusion of fresh and vigorous new members willing to make a major commitment of time and energy to the park, they’ve embarked on a training program. It’s an ideal time to rekindle interest in the park, says senior curator Jean Bruce Poole.

Carol Bramhall chairs the Pasadena-Foothill Valley YWCA 14th annual Second Century Awards honoring volunteers today at the Pasadena Hilton. Recipients will be Antonia Darder, Elinor Freeman, Grace Payne Hall, Ann Hight and Shirley Long.