The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) held its 25th Anniversary Gala on last Thursday night under glorious silver and white tents of SAMA’s West Courtyard and honored one of the Museum’s greatest founders, patrons and visionaries, Nancy Brown Negley.

San Antonio Museum of Art

Mrs. Negley saw the potential of the Museum’s current site and worked with Jack McGregor, the Economic Development Association and a very supportive board of trustees to make the conversion a reality. She was also instrumental in the acquisition of many of the Museum’s best modern and contemporary pieces currently on display.

Event co-chair Alice Carrington Foultz remarked, “I was inspired by the vision and enthusiasm of Nancy Brown Negley and Jack McGregor in 1981, when they decided to convert the historic Lone Star Brewery into a true museum of the Americas (as it was originally conceived). I am still inspired by Nancy’s contributions 25 years later.” Carrington Foultz and co-chair Chris Hill are both founding members of the Museum and strong patrons since 1981.

Chris Hill and Alice Carrington Foultz

In keeping with Negley’s devotion to contemporary art, the event had a sleek, modern feel, with its entirely white décor. To highlight the Museum’s silver anniversary, Tiffany & Co. provided mementos for all guests, and will host an exclusive evening in the fall with renowned silver expert and author John Loring for benefactors contributing at the silver anniversary level.

The event’s invitation is an homage to Frank Stella’sDouble Scramble, donated by The Brown Foundation in 1981 as part of the Museum’s original opening collection. Double Scramble has recently been rehung in the Museum’s Great Hall as part of the 25th Anniversary celebration. It coincides with the recent announcement that the Brown Foundation has established a fully funded curator of contemporary art position for the Museum.

For a complete calendar listing of public exhibitions, lectures and other special events open to the public celebrating the San Antonio Museum of Art’s 25th Anniversary, visit SAMA’s Web site at www.samuseum.org.

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