Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Gallery marks 'Greek Miracle' Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 15:30:30 EST Message-ID: \SE E;LIFE;ABOUT TOWN \HD Gallery marks 'Greek Miracle' The spheres of ancient and modern Greece converged in the soaring splendor of the National Gallery's East Wing Wednesday evening. But alas, the top Greek of the moment - President-elect Bill Clinton's communications director, George Stephanopoulos - failed to show. What he missed was the opening reception and dinner celebrating "The Greek Miracle: Classical Sculpture From the Dawn of Democracy, Fifth Century BC." The show launches a year of festivities marking the 2,500th anniversary of the birth of democracy in Athens. The exhibit, which runs through Feb. 7, includes 34 bronze and marble figures, 22 of which were leaving Greece for the first time. "It is marvelous that you [the United States] have honored us with this exhibit," said actress Irene Papas, attired in a black, flowing Grecian-style gown. "It is a beautiful connection. . . . I hope we can continue to exchange art and democracy between our two countries." Miss Papas, who has played Helen of Troy, Antigone and Electra, later gave a dramatic reading from classical Greek literature. In his after-dinner remarks, Greek Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis said: "It is a great privilege and honor for me to help inaugurate this historic exhibition. . . . We also celebrate the opening of the human mind to the idea that society functions best if all its citizens have equal rights. If the Greek people had not developed democracy 2,500 years ago, the astonishing artistic achievements of the fifth century B.C. would not have been possible." "I'm partial to Greek art," meisterarchitect I.M. Pei said as he headed toward the exhibit with his wife, Eileen. Mr. Pei, who designed the East Wing, recently returned from a Hellenic trip. "As the new National Gallery director, I'm extremely excited to preside over an exhibit that establishes the beginnings of visual culture, National Gallery Director Earl A. Powell III said. When his predecessor, J. Carter Brown, was asked if it was the last exhibit he organized during his long tenure, the ever-diplomatic Mr. Brown replied, "It was Rusty's first." Marika Mitsotakis, after viewing the show, said simply: "Being Greek, I cried." Other guests included Archbishop Iakovos, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America, Greek Minister of Culture Anna Psarouda-Benakis, Maryland Sen. Paul Sarbanes and wife Christine, Metropolitan Museum of Art Director Phillippe de Montebello, Evangeline Bruce, shipping heirs Philippe and Spyros Niarchos, and the Greek-born author of "Eleni," Nicholas Gage. One observer noted that the event attracted more members of the Greek press than soldiers at the battle of Thermopylae, but the latter were probably better behaved. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM