by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The Museum of Contemporary Art hosted a gathering Aug. 12 for its young professionals group, “The Contemporaries.” The idea is for people ages 21-40 to become engaged in the museum and promote the celebration of culture and the arts in the community.
At the event, more than 138 potential members came to MOCA for “Mistology: The Science Behind the Cocktail.”
In front of a standing-room-only crowd in the museum’s auditorium, Steve Hughes, a “spirits scientist” with Brown-Forman, the distributors of Canadian Mist whisky, explained how distilled spirits are made and blended.
Then Tim Laird, who travels the country promoting the art of mixology for Brown-Forman and bills himself as the CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer), demonstrated some of the techniques involved in making a perfect cocktail.
After the show, the members and guests went back to the lobby where they sampled some of Brown-Forman’s products and networked.
Rebecca Ryan-Gonzalez, president of The Contemporaries, said she has been around the arts all her life. Her father was gallery director at the University of Texas at San Antonio and her mother was an art teacher.
“I grew up in museums,” she said. “There’s something about walking into MOCA. The energy just hits you and makes you want to get involved.”
The group will host at least five events in the next year, some at the museum and some at other venues, but all with the same goal: To make young professionals more aware of contemporary art and encourage them to support the resource.
“When you go to any big city, you go to its museums. We have to make sure that’s sustainable,” said Contemporaries Treasurer Daniel Gilham.
Museum Director Debbie Broder is pleased to see The Contemporaries have such a successful event.
“They have such strong leadership and representation from the community. The Contemporaries are bringing current thinking and new ideas and energy to the museum. That’s particularly important for this museum because it represents contemporary culture,” she said.
Before the presentation in the auditorium began, Ryan-Gonzalez surveyed MOCA’s packed lobby. “Based on the response, I’d say this age group is looking for something like this.”
For details on The Contemporaries, call 366-6911 or visit www.mocajacksonville.org.
Rebecca Ryan-Gonzalez, president of The Contemporaries, and Casie Simpson, promotions, marketing and historian chair.
Amy Cole, who was the first guest to arrive and the first person to join The Contemporaries, with Tracy Shea, membership and outreach chair.
Contemporaries Treasurer Daniel Gilham and Secretary Allison Galloway, who also is the manager of membership and public programs at MOCA.
356-2466