An
exhibition of artworks owned by Amb. Nancy Goodman Brinker, the former
U.S. ambassador to Hungary, opened yesterday at the Lighthouse Center for
the Arts in Jupiter, Florida. Paintings and sculptures by outstanding
Hungarian artists from the late 19th century through the 20th century are
on display, including the works of Mihály Munkácsy, Béla Uitz, Hugó
Scheiber, József Nemes Lampérth, János Vaszary, László Moholy-Nagy, Sándor
Bortnyik, Endre Szöllősi, Vilmos Aba-Novák, Lili Ország, Lajos Tihanyi
and László Fehér.
This
outstanding collection is a measure of Ambassador Brinker's affection for
arts as well as her love of Hungary and Hungarian culture. She started
purchasing the pieces when she was posted to Budapest on a flourishing
arts market that was isolated from the mainstream for the bigger part of
the 20th century.
A
quote from Ambassador Brinker:
"As
an Ambassador, art became my best entrée to understanding the many facets
of Hungarian culture and rich history. Moreover, art and the artists
advanced my charge as Ambassador to link the Hungarian nation, past,
present, and future with an enhanced integrity to benefit overall task of
global understanding and knowledge.
"Each
of my pictures, I believe, has a very interesting story and I hope
artistic and expressive value to those who view them.
"Welcome
to the emotions and the beauty of these pictures. I'm very, very fortunate
to be living with them and honoring them…"
It
is our hope that through this exhibition, and with the help of other
collectors of Hungarian art, such as Kirk Brown in Denver, Hungarian 20th
century and contemporary art will regain its place in the world of fine
arts.
Ambassador
András Simonyi introduced Ambassador Brinker. She was helped by Hungarian
arts dealer and curator István Rozsics.
The Lighthouse Center for the Arts,
Gallery Square North, 373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta. (561) 746-3101.
Click
here to read Ambassador Brinker's introduction.
Click
here to read Ambassador Simonyi's remarks.
Ambassador Brinker with Sheldon Lenahan, President of
the Lighthouse Center for the Arts
Ambassadors Brinker and Simonyi standing in front of
two paintings by László Fehér
Ambassador Brinker with curator István Rozsics. The
painting on the far left is by László Moholy-Nagy
Amb. Brinker delivering her speech in front of her
portrait by László Fehér. On her left, a painting by Lajos Tihanyi, on
her right, a work by Béla Uitz.
