The Fine Art of Dining

Art collector and patron Eli Broad--center, with Twyla Martin, left, and his wife, Edye--founding chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, was honored Sunday at the Art of Dining XI, which netted roughly $640,000 for the Orange County Museum of Art. California artist Wayne Thiebaud also was honored at the dinner benefit, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach.

“It is thrilling to watch the cultural renaissance taking place in Orange County,” said Broad, chairman and chief executive officer of SunAmerica Inc. “The merger of the Laguna Art Museum and the Newport Harbor Art Museum and your recent expansion of gallery space has truly created a first-class institution.”

Donald Bren, chairman of the Irvine Co., attended with his wife, Brigitte, and gave Thiebaud his award. Also present were museum chairman Charles D. Martin and actor and artist Martin Mull, who was emcee. Twyla Martin was gala chairwoman. Proceeds go toward museum programs, including exhibitions and education. For information about the museum: (949) 759-1122.