The Vero Beach Museum of Art Director’s Society and Chairman’s Club Dinner last Friday evening was a special one, not only drawing its 30th Anniversary year to a close, but also paying tribute to Lucinda Gedeon, who is retiring at the end of the November after 12 years as the museum’s executive director/CEO. The annual black-tie dinner is an invitational event to thank its upper level category members whose contributions provide major support to the museum and its programs.
Guests were offered a choice of early or later seating in either the Holmes Great Hall or the Wahlstrom Sculpture Garden, enclosed by the Laura and Bill Buck Atrium. The sophisticated crowd dined on a gourmet dinner of filet and grilled prawns, with a lush White Russian cake for dessert at tables set with a simple elegance that included lovely white hydrangea centerpieces designed by Hutchinson Floral Artistry.
Both groups were treated before dinner to a lecture in the Leonhardt Auditorium by guest lecturer Kevin Sharp, director of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, who spoke about the museum’s new exhibit, The American Spirit: Selections from the Manoogian Collection.
In a brief welcome before each lecture, new Board of Trustees Chair Sandy Rolf paid tribute to Gedeon, saying, “She has been a wonderful professional, tireless leader and the museum is where it is today because of her vision and leadership.”
Rolf related that the Board of Trustees had presented Gedeon with a lifetime membership in the Chairman’s Club and the Athena Club as a thank-you for her service and the wonderful legacy she is leaving behind.
“We were also fortunate to have the incoming Director Brady Roberts and his wife Anna make a special trip to Vero today to join in this important thank-you celebration for members,” said Rolf, noting that Roberts will take over the position on Dec. 5.
“Our board is excited about this next chapter in the museum’s history,” Rolf continued. “We feel strongly the partnerships that have been formed with so many organizations thru the Art for Health Sake, the Learning Alliance and the Moonshot Moment Initiative plus special programs for troubled teens expand the museum’s reach throughout Indian River County. Quality offerings for classes in the Art School, the exhibits and all programs will always remain. I am very excited about what lies ahead for this cultural treasure here in Vero Beach. We are so lucky to have such a quality Museum of Art in our community and our board is focused on maintaining that quality in all phases of the operation.”