The Phillips Collection Toasts 90 Years Of New At Annual Gala; After Party A Roaring Twenties Affair!

NORTHWEST -- Art is said to be subjective. But there was nothing at all one-sided about The Phillips Collection’s 2011 annual black tie gala, which was permeated with a decidedly spirited sense of unity.

Lockheed Martin Vice President Bruce Tanner, Vicki Tanner, The Phillips Collection Director Dorothy Kosinski, Trish Vradenburg, and Chairman of The Phillips Collection Board George Vradenburg.

Attended by everyone from Supreme Court Justices (Stephen Breyer) to members of Congress (Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Doris Matsui (D-CA)) to Ambassadors (Norway, Japan, Israel, Afghanistan, Sweden, Luxembourg, Morocco, Mexico, etc.) to titans of industry and curators of culture, Friday evening’s celebration highlighted the 90th anniversary of America’s first museum of modern art, with a special toast led by Chairman of The Phillips Collection Board George Vradenberg and museum Director Dorothy Kosinski.

Museum Director Dorothy Kosinski and Board Chairman George Vradenburg toast ’90 Years of New’.

Since it was first launched in 1921, inside the home of founder Duncan Phillips, The Phillips Collection has grown to become one of the world’s most prominent collections of impressionist and modern American and European art.

And all proceeds from the weekend’s festivities will be used to support the museum’s award-winning education programs that are rooted in such a distinguished art portfolio.

Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, Yoriko Fujisaki, Shamim Jawad, and former Afghan Ambassador Said Jawad.

Gala guests began the night with a champagne cocktail reception on the lower level and inside the courtyard of The Phillips Collection building before making their way to their respective dinner tables, all of which had been carefully scattered throughout the museum’s many galleries.

Each table drew on the surrounding works of art for decorative inspiration and, in a nod to the museum’s modern roots, also held a shiny new iPad which invited diners to explore The Phillips Collection’s signature mobile application.

At the conclusion of the dinner, guests were invited to join those Washingtonians who purchased tickets to the night’s official after party at the Society of the Cincinnati’s historic Anderson House for dessert and dancing.

Inspired by the Roaring Twenties (complete with an authentic Rolls-Royce from that era), the late night party boasted everything from an authentic creperie to an open Moet & Chandon bar, with plenty of live music in between.

“90 Years of New” down. A centennial celebration just a few short years away!

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The Phillips Collection is located at 1600 21st Street, NW, near the Dupont Circle Metro (Q Street exit).