2025 Fall Gala - Claremont Lewis Museum of Art

Saturday, September 20, 2025

5:30 pm – Wine and hors d’oeuvres reception & exhibition viewing

7:00 pm – Seated for dinner

8:00 pm – Live auction

Claremont Lewis Museum of Art

200 W. First Street, Claremont, CA

We are delighted to welcome members and friends to the Claremont Depot lawn for our annual Fall Gala on Saturday, September 20. View the exhibition Complications in Color marking the 100th birthday of Karl Benjamin and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres on the Depot Plaza, while perusing art and experiences offered in our Live Auction. Dinner al fresco follows on the lawn catered by Chef Henry of Spaggi’s. This year’s Gala honorees, Barbara Brown and Dr. Janet Myhre, share a bond of friendship built on a deep appreciation of local artists. Both were early supporters of the Claremont Museum of Art, founded by their friend Marguerite McIntosh, serving on the Board for many years and continuing to participate as emeritae. They each have an amazing art collection and have donated works to the Museum’s collection. They are celebrated at this year’s gala for their quiet leadership and long-standing support.

Purchase Tickets

Live Auction

A spirited live auction will feature unique works of art and experiences:

• Private tour for 8 of Karl Benjamin’s historic home studio with cocktail hour

• Karl Benjamin serigraph

• Gino Hollander painting

• San Francisco condo, private Palmaz Vineyards tasting

• Spaggi’s dinner for 6, and 3 bottles of premium wines

• All-inclusive Mexican resort vacation

2025 Gala Honorees

Barbara Brown was raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, educated at the University of Manitoba, and earned her license as a registered dietician. She and her husband David, a neurosurgeon, came to Claremont in 1973 with their four young sons. Here, she pursued her interest in the arts by collecting paintings by Phil Dike, Millard Sheets, Milford Zornes, and others. As a board member of the Fine Arts Foundation, she raised funds by producing two popular series of notecards.

Barbara was a major supporter of the newly formed Claremont Museum of Art and sponsored a set of notecards featuring paintings by Karl Benjamin in 2007. She joined the Museum’s Board of Directors in 2010 and served on the gala committee for many years in addition to contributing ideas and support for other events to engage members. She partnered with her friend Janet Myhre to co-host several Santa Lucia celebrations.

Dr. Janet M. Myhre is an award-winning statistician and professor emerita of mathematics at Claremont McKenna College, where she dedicated more than four decades to teaching and research with an emphasis on real-world applications. She is best-known for her work in data analysis and risk assessment, including contracts with the United States Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Since moving to Padua Hills in 1961, Janet gradually expanded her elegant modern home and collected some of the finest examples of work by Claremont artists. She joined her close friend Marguerite McIntosh as a major supporter and board member of the newly formed Claremont Museum of Art in 2006. She continued to serve on the CLMA Board of Directors through 2018 and is currently a member of the Acquisitions Committee. She has graciously invited Museum members into her home for many memorable Santa Lucia celebrations through the years

Sponsorship Opportunities & Benefits

Platinum Sponsor $7,500

Name/logo in Courier event ad, name prominently featured on event signage Recognition in Gala program, social media, and CLMA website
1 Premium Business membership to CLMA, which includes free admission to the Museum for all employees
2 Gala tables for 9 guests
4 tickets for members only events

Gold Sponsor $5,000