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F. Michael Reilly – GAC Patron & Friend
The obituary reads born, August 1920, died October 2003, yet there is so much more to the story.
One afternoon in 2000, a dapper eighty-year old man, a stranger to the Arts Council, walked into the GAC office and, in response to a newspaper article about the mounting costs of our gallery renovations, wrote a rather large check to help cover our expenses. Until that time, Michael Reilly had had no contact with the Greenwich Arts Council—he simply acted upon his instincts, and the Arts Council was rewarded with his generosity and trust.
Apparently this was not unusual for Michael. He was a man of many interests and passions. A one-time actor, he counted many celebrities as his friends including Carol Channing and designer, Bill Blass. Edward Everett Horton was often a Thanksgiving houseguest. He also supported the arts by investing in Broadway shows. While investing on B’way is not characteristically a financially sound idea, Michael supported the arts from his heart. And his instincts were often rewarded. He was one of the original investors in A Chorus Line.
Born and raised in Greenwich, Michael traveled and lived all over the world, and at one time had multiple businesses in Puerto Rico including a hotel. Through his travels, he established a lot of strong and lasting friendships. He was a diligent and faithful letter writer and, while independently wealthy, he often joked that because of his far-reaching correspondence, all done longhand, he didn’t have time to work.
Outwardly, he was a flamboyant figure. On stage and in life, he could fill up a room. Yet there was a quite, gentleness and sincerity that hid just below the silken ascot and quick wit. His generosity and belief in the arts continues now that he is gone. Michael Reilly created a $250,000 annuity for the Greenwich Arts Council. We are eternally grateful to him for his support and trust. Although plans for Michael’s gift are not definite, one idea is to refurbish the old Meeting Room and make it a more viable performance space. Can you see it—the Reilly Recital Hall? I think Michael would love that notion.
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The Greenwich Arts Council Plays Host
To The Construction of Tibetan Sand Mandala
July 6 Through July 9
On
Tuesday morning, July 6, the Greenwich Arts Council played host to a group
of 10 Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in Southern India.
During their stay in the area, the monks created a sand mandala, or sand
painting, in the second floor meeting room of the Arts Center. The sand
mandala is an ancient Tibetan art form of unbelievable delicacy using
colored sands to create intricate patterns and shapes. The mandala was
built over a four-day period and culminated with the deconstruction of
the design and disbursement of the sand, symbolizing the impermanence
of all that exists. The closing ceremony was scheduled for Friday, July
9, and included a procession down Greenwich Avenue to the waterfront at
Roger Sherman Baldwin Park where the remaining sand was poured into the
Sound.
The
building of a sand mandala is a slow, deliberate and contemplative process.
The general public was invited to sit and watch the monks as they worked.
The monks also scheduled some smaller events –prayers, discussions, and
blessings in private homes, as well as cultural performances that featured
Tibetan dancing, costumes and music at Wainwright House in Rye, NY. A
full schedule of all related events was made available at the Greenwich
Arts Council office and at Wainwright House. Greenwich resident Diane
Terry sponsored the visit of the monks and acted as host for their visit.
For more information call the Arts Council office at 622-3998, or Diane
Terry at 869-4522.
Refer
to the Press
Release for more information.
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Friendly Connections, a program
of Family Centers of Greenwich, enables a group of seniors to meet over
the phone to discuss an exciting and diverse range of topics including
current events, world travel, art, history and health issues, to name
a few. Each month GAC Executive Director, Frank Juliano, hosts a conference
call with as many as 20 seniors discussing the current exhibit in The
Bendheim Gallery. Just recently the folks of Friendly Connections paid
a live visit to the gallery for a box lunch and a personal tour of THROUGH
THE AGES (the intergenerational group exhibit combining the talents of
the best high school photographers with mixed media works from more seasoned
and established artists), with participating artist Carol Dixon and Juliano.
Here are some pictures from that visit.
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From left to right: Sean Caulfield; Alice Kraus; Jennifer Droblyen; Frank Juliano; Francesca Rosenberg
The Greenwich Arts Council recently hosted a panel discussion on how art can help people with Alzheimer’s. Sean Caulfield, Community Outreach Coordinator of Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, explained, “People with Alzheimer’s do not loose their memories; they loose access to their memories. We need to find ways to access these memories.”
Jennifer Droblyen, Manager of Outreach Education at the Bruce, stressed, “By showing art and engaging a range of senses, we can draw out their memories and create meaningful dialogue.” “But reacting to art does not necessarily require memory,” added Francesca Rosenberg, Director of Community Programs, MoMA, “Like a rhythm, people can respond even if they do not know the song.” Francesca recalled one participant started dancing and talking about his single life when told that a painting was called Broadway Boogie Woogie.
“Treatment of those with Alzheimer’s needs to include how we treat one another,” as Alice Kraus, Bruce Museum docent, explained why she volunteered. “I’m giving something to people I can’t give to my mother. I can give back indirectly by creating a safe place where those with Alzheimer’s can feel like complete people.”
The Art of Remembering was part of the Greenwich Art Council's continued commitment to people living with Alzheimer's. Each month clients from Greenwich Adult Day Care come from lunch at the Senior Center followed by a personal tour and brief discussion of the current exhibit in The Bendheim Gallery led by GAC Executive Director, Frank Juliano.
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The
Greenwich Arts Council and the Avon Theatre in Stamford are happy to
announce the formation of a reciprocal membership agreement. As a member
of the Arts Council, you will receive $5 off when you join the Avon.
Avon Theatre members will receive the same benefit when they join the
Greenwich Arts Council. Other partnership events are in the works for
the near future including a film/lecture series.
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