FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2019
THE MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART (MOLAA)
HONORS ROBERT GRAHAM AND SOL TRUJILLO
AT THEIR ANNUAL GALA
(Performance by the Grammy winning Los Lobos)
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) is pleased to announce their Annual Gala, occurring Friday, October 11th at the Museum. The Annual Gala at MOLAA is our main fundraising event where all proceeds are destined to support our exhibitions and education programs. MOLAA is honored to present the LEGADO Lifetime Art Achievement Award to iconic Mexican-American Sculptor, Robert Graham, and the LEGADO Philanthropy Award to visionary business executive and philanthropist, Sol Trujillo during a special evening celebrating Latin American and Latino culture. This year, we have the honor to have Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, as the Gala Committee Chair who has been a consistent supporter of MOLAA.
“The LEGADO Award aims to build recognition of the outstanding careers of Latin artists and philanthropists who have had a deep impact in arts and culture globally and who have used their knowledge and influence to create a better world,” says Lourdes Ramos-Rivas, Ph.D., President and CEO of MOLAA.
With this in mind, we created different categories of LEGADO Awards. The LEGADO Philanthropy Award seeks to recognize Latino individuals who have made a difference on the world through their generous philanthropic giving. Awardees are leaders, such as Sol Trujillo, serving as inspirations to those around them, exercising thoughtfulness and foresight, and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps.
"I am deeply honored to receive the first MOLAA LEGADO Philanthropy Award. The legacy of my career and the mission of MOLAA is highlighting the contributions in business and culture of Hispanics and Latinos to our nation. Together we are changing the narrative about the perception and impact of the Hispanic population and the critical role we play in America and the world. I am happy and proud to accept this award from MOLAA and am excited about what the future holds for MOLAA in this community and globally,” said Sol Trujillo.
The LEGADO Lifetime Achievement Art Award honors artists, like Robert Graham, who, during their lifetime have made their own indelible marks and are exemplary in their dedication to sharing their profound knowledge and experience with promising creative talent. This Award will be presented to Robert Graham posthumously and will be received on his behalf by his wife, Anjelica Huston and son, Steven Graham.
“I would like to personally thank the Museum of Latin American Art for honoring my father Robert Graham this year with the LEGADO Lifetime Achievement Award. I am also proud of the concurrent opening exhibition of Civic Monuments curated by Noriko Fujinami and would like to acknowledge MOLAA’s kind support on behalf of the Estate,” said Steven Graham.
In honor of Robert Graham, MOLAA will exhibit seven maquettes that represent the civic monuments designed by Robert Graham during his career. This will be the first time all seven maquettes are presented together in one exhibition. Curated by Noriko Fujinami, this exhibition will open the night of the 2019 Gala providing evening guests with an intimate view of Robert Graham’s impact on communities throughout the USA.
This extraordinary event includes the special performance of the Grammy award-winning band, Los Lobos. Guests will also enjoy a fine-dining dinner prepared by Thank Goodness It’s Sofia (TGIS) Catering in the Museum’s Robert Gumbiner Sculpture and Events Garden. A cocktail reception will kick off the evening where guests will have the opportunity to bid on special items, travel packages and unique experiences. Gala attendees can acquire unique artwork by some of today’s most captivating Latin American and Latino artists. A preview of the auction artworks and experiences will be made available to the public on MOLAA’s online auction platform powered by GiveSmart from September 27 through October 10, 2019.
“As this year’s Gala Committee Chair, I am proud to support MOLAA and their efforts to promote Latin American and Latino Art and culture through fundraising events that support the achievements of individuals who exemplify the best of Latin American and Latino Heritage. I’m also very excited to be their auctioneer for the 2nd year. Their live auction items are always amazing, and this year's entertainment is the world-famous Los Lobos band,” said Randy Gordon.
The Museum’s mission and programs are generously supported by many partners including corporations, foundations, government agencies, members, and individual donors. The annual Gala is MOLAA’s signature fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting the Museum’s exhibitions and art education programs. MOLAA’s 2019 Gala is made possible through the generosity of its Board of Directors, Gala Committee, the Robert Gumbiner Foundation, Thank Goodness It’s Sofia (TGIS) Catering, the Port of Long Beach, AES, Don Temple Storage, the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, among others.
To purchase a table or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, visit molaa.org/molaa-gala or call Todd Heustess, Vice President of Development at (562) 216-4117 or Michelle Klein, Assistant Development Director at (562) 216-4137.
MOLAA GALA 2019 - EVENT TIMELINE
5:30 PM – VIP Reception
6:00 PM – Gala Reception
7:00 PM – Live Auction of Contemporary Art and Unique Experiences / Presentation of the LEGADO Awards. Dinner provided by TGIS Catering.
Black Tie attire required.
###
Museum of Latin American Art | 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90802
Hours: Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 11:00am – 5:00pm, Thursday, 11:00am - 9:00pm
Admission: $10.00 General/ $7.00 Students (w/ID) and seniors (65+) Members and kids under 12 Free, Free Admission every Sunday offered by MOLAA.
Info: (562) 437-1689 or www.molaa.org
About the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in 1996 in Long Beach, California and serves the greater Los Angeles area. MOLAA is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art. Since its inception, MOLAA has doubled in size and continues to expand its permanent collection, ranging from works by Tamayo and Matta to Cruz-Diez, Los Carpinteros and Tunga. MOLAA is a multidisciplinary institution providing cross-cultural dialogue through the arts, educational programs and events for the community.
About the LEGADO Lifetime Achievement Art Award
As part of the museum’s vision, the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) aims to build recognition of the outstanding careers of Latin artists who have had a deep impact in arts and culture globally and who have used their fame to create a better world. With this in mind, we created LEGADO: A Legacy for the Arts. LEGADO honors renowned Latin American and Latino artists who nurture and champion emerging artists. LEGADO awardees are diverse artists, who, having made their own indelible marks, are exemplary in their dedication to sharing their profound knowledge and experience with promising creative talent. Great artists realize that their gift comes with the duty to give back: to hold the door through which they have entered the art world open to the next generation of talent. Throughout our history, the towering figures of art have created a legacy through their own work and also through mentoring the talent of the future.
About the LEGADO Philanthropy Award
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) created the LEGADO Philanthropy Award as a compliment to the original LEGADO: A Legacy for the Arts Award. As a nonprofit institution, MOLAA has a deep understanding of the needs of arts organizations around the globe. This award seeks to recognize Latino individuals who have made their mark on the world through their generous philanthropic giving. LEGADO awardees are leaders – serving as inspirations to those around them, exercising thoughtfulness and foresight, and encouraging others to follow in their footsteps. The LEGADO Philanthropy Award honors those who are passionate about creating a better world today and serve as models for the next generation of philanthropists.
About ROBERT GRAHAM | LEGADO Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Robert Graham (1938-2008) was born in Mexico City and studied at San Jose State University (B.A., 1963) and San Francisco Art Institute (M.F.A., 1964). Graham’s work is represented in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and over twenty other museums worldwide. Commissioned sculptural installations include The Great Bronze Doors of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, the Charlie Parker Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Duke Ellington Monument in New York City, and the FDR Memorial in Washington DC.
Graham, well-known for his monumental bronze sculptures and civic monuments, has previously worked in fired clay. Like many sculptors, his ceramic sculptures convey a direct relationship to his other works, and for Graham the pieces continue his investigation of the female form.
About SOL TRUJILLO | LEGADO Philanthropy Award
Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1951, Solomon D. (“Sol”) Trujillo earned his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree with a major in business and a post-graduate MBA (finance) from the University of Wyoming. He has also received honorary doctorates from both the University of Wyoming and the University of Colorado.
Mr. Trujillo is an international business executive with three decades’ experience as CEO of large market cap global companies in the US, the EU, and Asia-PAC. In recognition of his lifetime commitment to workplace diversity, Sol received the Ronald H. Brown Corporate Bridge Builder Award from President Clinton in 1999. Sol received the first Brillante Award for Excellence from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs at the Society’s annual conference and career expo on October 15, 2011. The Brillante Award, the most prestigious honor granted by the Society, was given to Sol for his lifetime achievements and contributions to the Hispanic community, reflecting NSHMBA’s mission “to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development in order to improve society.” Most recently, Sol received the prestigious National Hispanic Hero Award from the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI).
About RANDY GORDON | President & CEO, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
In 1993 when Randy Gordon was CEO of the Covina Chamber of Commerce one of his board members, who was a McDonald’s operator asked him to substitute for the auctioneer who was very ill the day before the “Big Mac Under Glass” event. Even though he was used to asking folks for money in his day job, it was a new and scary experience, for the first time. Gordon found himself enjoying what he did and soon got hooked on the experience. The following year, he accepted the position of President/CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. In this much larger city the number of nonprofit auctions opportunities were numerous, Gordon had found his second calling and he was off and running. To this day, he has had the pleasure to be the auctioneer for: Aquarium of the Pacific; Ronald McDonald House; Special Olympics, Long Beach State Athletics; Red Cross; Boy Scouts; Boys and Girls Club; Goodwill; Leroy’s Boys Home; City of Hope; Mothers Against Drunk Drivers; California Peace Officers; Cancer League; Cancer Support Community; Wounded Warriors; Boys Town; Precious Lamb; Alzheimer’s; and other nonprofits.