Backs Against the Walls at MOCA Party

The Scene: Opening of “Louis I. Kahn: In the Realm of Architecture” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Friday night. The late architect, whose designs include the Salk Institute in La Jolla, is considered by many to be second in stature only to Frank Lloyd Wright in this country. Preceding the exhibit, MOCA’s biggest donors and trustees, plus architects, architectural historians and L. A.’s superstar car designers, were invited to a three-course dinner, courtesy of the Ford Motor Co. (one of the exhibit’s underwriters), at the Hotel Inter-Continental next door on California Plaza.

The Buzz: The partitions. The installation is arranged around huge, heavy, Kahn-ian arched walls that were designed by architect Arata Isozaki, who designed MOCA. Some people found the walls a fascinating element in themselves, others vociferously stated that they were intrusive and too overpowering. There was also much discussion about Diane Keaton’s high platform black pumps.

Who Was There: Kahn’s widow, Esther, daughter Sue Ann, and grandson Gregory Kahn Melitonoy; curators Elizabeth Smith, David Brownlee, David G. De Long and Julia Moore Converse, curator of the Louis I. Kahn Collection; architects Tim Vreeland, Stephanos Polyzoides, Ray Kappe, Barton Myers, Frank Israel, Michael Rotondi, Ann Ting; academicians Robert Winter, Thomas Hines, Richard Weinstein, David Brown, Strother MacMinn, plus car designers Gerhard Steinle, Richard Hutting, Dave Hackett and Ford’s vice president of design, John J. Telnack.

Star Gazing: As they say in horoscopes, there are changes in store at MOCA. Museum director Richard Koshalek noted that both associate director Sherri Geldin and board chairman Fred Nicholas retire from their posts this month.

Overheard: “Is Ford paying the bill?” someone asked, ordering a (free) cocktail.

Quoted: “It’s very difficult. Their hours are ridiculous and they never make any money,” said Esther Kahn, when asked to describe life with an architect.

Dress Code: Terminally chic, primarily black. Fur coats optional.