Newport Harbor Honors Modest Effort

Contemporary art collector Jack Shea tried to stay in the shadows Sunday night when the Newport Harbor Art Museum honored him and his wife, Marion, at its seventh annual Art of Dining benefit.

Taking the stage before hundreds of guests at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach, the museum’s former chairman dodged the spotlight as museum president Joan Beall sang his praises and presented him with an etched crystal bowl.

“C’mon, Jack,” whispered his wife, coaxing him to step forward.

Typical Jack Shea--the humble arts visionary who for 20 years has provided museum leadership and underwritten many of the facility’s primo exhibitions, including the acclaimed “Edvard Munch,” “Six in Bronze,” “the Second Newport Biennal” and “American Abstraction from the Addison Collection of American Art.”

“We are honored--thank you for having noticed,” said Shea, owner of Beacon Bay Enterprises in Newport Beach.

During the $300-per-person dinner, a six-course festival of light French cuisine, Marion warned Jack that she was going to speak when they were honored. (“Don’t,” he begged his vivacious wife. “Yes, yes, I will--you deserve it, Jack!” said Marion, who wore a black sequin sheath and tailored jacket.)

“I must say something,” she told the black-tie crowd. “I want to tell you from my heart how much I appreciate you honoring Jack. And it was so nice of you to put my name on it, too. It’s very special to us. We wish you all love.”

Back at the table, Jack Shea--whose Palm Springs digs are plastered with the masters of contemporary art (Stella, Diebenkorn, et al.)--spoke, albeit reluctantly, about his collection.

“I enjoy it--that’s the sum and substance of it,” he said. “I enjoy living with it, looking at it.”

And his love of the museum? “I’m not closely involved with it now, so I can say this with some objectivity: Orange County is lucky to have this museum. They are really lucky. There have been good times and bad, but all told, it adds a great deal to the community.”

Museum director Michael Botwinick launched the festivities, telling guests he would be their culinary guide for the evening. “This is not usually my function; I usually get to have fun at these,” he said. “But our great friend Michael Mondavi is in Florida. He sent his regrets . . . but more importantly, he sent his wine.”

Indeed. There was so much grape at the affair that Botwinick cautioned guests not to drink too much. “Decide who’s going to drive your table home,” he said.

Net event proceeds, which included a live auction, were estimated at $150,000.

Also among guests: gala chairwoman Alison Baker Frenzel with her husband, Bud; Art of Dining founder Sam Goldstein with his

wife, Pam (who sported a huge amethyst pendant. “I got this (at the Art of Dining auction) the year Danny and Susie Hernandez were here,” she said. “Susie wanted it, but Sam got it for me because it was our anniversary”); Donald Beall, CEO of Rockwell; Kathryn Thompson and Gus Owen (who is about to be appointed an interstate commerce commissioner by President Clinton. “There’s a good possibility I’ll be going to Washington this week,” he said), and Tom and Marilyn Nielsen.

Gala committee members included Ronnie Allumbaugh, E.G. Chamberlin, Annette Harzan, Pat Neisser, Susan Porter, Peg Reday and Nancy Sheffner. Also on the committee were Jan Seitz, Lola Seymour, Margaret Sprague, Jennifer Van Bergh and Socorro Vasquez.