PEACH WEEKENDER: AROUND TOWN

Art collection dazzles TSA fund-raiser

BIG donors of the Toledo School for the Arts recently enjoyed a peek of the renowned private collection of the philanthropists Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation for Art, listed among the top 200 private art collectors in the world. Works by seminal modern and contemporary artists from all over the world intrigued the minds.

From left, Stuart and Maxine Frankel, and Martin Porter in front of a Sol LeWitt mural.

The Frankel event was part of the school's Technology Arts and Industry Campaign, which has raised more than $650,000 toward the campaign goal of $1.5 million, according to Dave Gierke, development director, who is running the campaign.

Stu and Jo-Jo Goldberg, are shown at a past fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Their recent fundraiser was in memory of Mr. Goldberg’s late father, David Goldberg, and late friend John Cerutti.

After a tour of the Frankel collection, the group dined in a room full of more great art including a mural by Soloman "Sol" LeWitt. The American artist, who was born in 1928 in Hartford, Conn., and died in 2007 in New York City, was known for his involvement in various movements such as the conceptual art and minimalism movement. The guests also were privy to a performance by a few of the Toledo School for the Arts students whose musical talent was reverberated in the overhead lighting display that danced to the beat of the sounds.

Toledo School for the Arts alum Josh Silver plays piano, while Tom and Betsy Brady, left, and Becky Fuhrman and Don Leary enjoy the reception during a Toledo School for the Arts event at the Toledo Club.

The Frankels, delightful hosts who truly enjoyed sharing their collection, said "Toledo School for the Arts is a model for other schools." Mrs. Frankel is board chairman of Cranbrook Academy of Art, and also is on the boards of University of Michigan Museum of Art, Chinati Foundation, Independent Curators International, and Storm King Art Center. Mr. Frankel is president of Stuart Frankel Development Co., a real estate development company based in Troy, Mich.

Their collection pieces have been loaned frequently to museum exhibitions across the globe and in our region including Cranbrook, University of Michigan, the Detroit School for the Arts, and TSA.

Among the 40-some who donated $1,000 or more each to attend the event were Martin Porter, founding director of TSA; Bill Bostleman, board chairman, and wife Evy Jarrett, and Konni Bostleman, his mother; Sara Jane DeHoff, founding TSA supporter and son Brennan Kasperzak, glass artist; Pat Appold, Lisa Wolfe, Kathy Jones, Marna Ramnath, Judith Conda, Mike Calabrese, founding board member and wife, Deb, founding dance instructor; Leslie Adams and Joe McCaffery, Tom and Betsy Brady, Becky Fuhrman and Don Leary, Dave and Dottie Pienta, Glenn Richter, John and Mary Fedderke, and Dan Schwoerer and wife Lani McGregor, owners of Bullseye Glass in Portland, Ore.

Among others who hosted events for the TSA campaign were Mr. Leary and Ms. Fuhrman and Mrs. Conda and husband Joe Conda, both home events. Several members of the Toledo Club, including Mr. Leary and Ms. Fuhrman, Mr. and Mrs. Brady, Mr. and Mrs. Calabrese, Judd and Sheila Johnson, and Susan and Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications Inc., hosted a soiree for 100-some guests to hear about one of Toledo's treasures, Toledo School for the Arts, and to promote donations to the campaign.

STU and Jo-Jo Goldberg raised about $15,000 for the American Heart Association with a little help from their friends. Their annual fund-raiser was catered by the Beirut recently at Inverness Club.

Scott High School's Fantastic Dancing Machines, a surprise performance for guests, wowed the audience and received a standing ovation.

Mr. Goldberg, a local attorney, showed off some of his own musical talent. He and Eric Schwalbe, who last performed together as school chums for their fifth-grade class 33 years ago, played '?60s and '?70s tunes. Then they performed Judy Collins' Someday Soon with their longtime friend Libby Edwards, with whom they never before performed, said Mr. Goldberg.

Among the 50-some attendees were Jeff Carroll of Charlotte, Jody Schwalbe, Peggy and Dave Sturgeon, Carrie Sponseller, Tom Gibney, Eric Kronk, Mark Rodriguez, Ed Reinstein and Laurie McGuire, Jan and Brad Dolgin, Claudia and Richard St. Jean, Mike Bell and Karen Jarosz, Josh and Amanda Goldberg, Larry Sykes, and Chris and Ken Brochin.

Contact Blade Society Writer Barbara Hendel at 419-724-6124 or at bhendel@theblade.com