Bowers Raises Hopes, Funds by Moonlight

Alfresco. Nobody does it better than Bowers Museum, which played host to 225 guests who dined on nouvelle cuisine of the Southwest in the museum’s moonlit courtyard.

Under a canopy of trees, guests enjoyed “painted desert” soup--actually two soups, yellow corn and red pepper bisque--followed by filet of beef and veal (served at room temperature) and black beans.

The piece de resistance at Friday night’s benefit was chocolate tortilla, a cookie-like confection filled with whipped cream and Chambord-soaked raspberries--that had board member Judy Fluor-Runels dieting all week in anticipation.

“I’ll steal my husband’s given half the chance,” said Fluor-Runels, elegantly dressed in black velvet shot with silver, during the cocktail reception in the museum gallery.

Donna Karlen was chairwoman for the $150 per-person affair, dubbed “Expanding Your Horizons” in honor of the museum’s $12-million renovation and expansion plan, scheduled to begin construction in January. “I’m really happy to be here tonight on behalf of Bowers,” said Karlen, who sported a 90-carat aquamarine pendant around her neck (and huge gardenias on her wrist from beau Robert Valenta). “I just want everybody to know that Bowers is alive and well and doing fine. We want to become the best museum in Orange County.”

Director Paul M. Piazza said the museum had a chance to “become the premiere cultural arts institution in Southern California.”

“And, with the kind of support we’re getting from the city ($12 million for building and property acquisition) and the interest we’ve received from the private sector, I think we’ll achieve it. Ten years from now, Bowers will be sitting in the midst of a beautiful redevelopment project that will include 90 acres of retail and housing development and, hopefully, a number of other cultural facilities--a children’s museum, museums of science and technology, history, contemporary art and artist studios, galleries, restaurants.”

Harriet Harris, new president of the museum’s board of governors, noted that the expansion would give the museum the opportunity to become a catalyst for “a countywide museum district. If Los Angeles and other cities in our state have their own districts, it’s time we looked at Bowers, which is at the center of Orange County, as that place. “

Also among guests attending the affair was Nadine Henry, great-granddaughter of William Spurgeon, founder of Santa Ana. “I have such fond memories of the museum from my childhood,” said Henry, who attended with Thomas Wilck. “I can remember coming here and climbing aboard the antique carriages. Being a traditionalist, I’m happy to hear the museum intends to retain its early California architecture when it expands.”

Orange County Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez also recalled coming to the museum as a child: “I can remember visiting the Bowers as part of my school year in Orange County. I loved climbing on those carriages, too. As I recall, I got the best-looking girl in second grade to sit with me on one of them. But she just jumped right off.”

Singled out for his continued volunteerism for the museum was James Delamore, the floral designer who created the benefit centerpieces: bouquets stuck with twinkle-lit acrylic tubes spilling over with white orchids.

Nadine O’Connor was co-chairwoman for the event. Proceeds, estimated at $20,000, were earmarked for museum expansion, exhibits and education programs.