Founders’ Meeting and Opening Gala for the Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries for Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art at the Art Institute of Chicago

The annual Founders’ Meeting for November 2012 was graciously hosted by founder Mr. John Calamos and his wife, Ms. Mae Calamos.  Founders, spouses and guests attended a very special cocktail reception and dinner program at the National Hellenic Museum and enjoyed a Insiders’ Tour of the museum led by Ms. Connie Mourtoupalas, President of the National Hellenic Museum.  The Founders were then treated to Private Previews of two upcoming exhibitions in the museum –The Spirit of Marathon and “American Moments: The Legacy of US Immigration. The evening concluded with an engaging keynote presentation – “A Global Economic Outlook” – presented by John Calamos.

The next evening Founders had a very special cocktail reception for the opening Gala for the Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries for Greek, Roman and Byzantine Art.

In February 2011, Mary and Michael Jaharis through the Jaharis Family Foundation, Inc. gifted $10 million dollars to the Art Institute of Chicago for the enhancement and display of ancient Mediterranean and Byzantine Art, intended to supplement exhibitions, educational programs, acquisitions and also to aid in the formation of a new department for curatorial.

“The generosity of Mary and Michael Jaharis has allowed us to reconceive our presentation of ancient and Byzantine art in a way never before possible in the museum’s history,” said Douglas Druick, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute.

Karen Manchester, chair and curator of Ancient Art, Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art said: “The gift from the Jaharis Family Foundation has allowed the Art Institute to literally re-present our Greek, Roman, and Byzantine works of art—from how and where they are displayed to how they are interpreted.”