James Cameron, National Geographic, De Borchgrave: D.C.
Austrian alpinist Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, the first woman to climb the world’s 14 8,000- meter peaks without supplementary oxygen, was named National Geographic Society’s “Explorer of the Year” Thursday night.
Jacques Piccard, who in 1960 was one of the two first men (with Don Walsh) to explore the deepest part of the ocean, the Pacific’s Mariana Trench, received the Hubbard Medal posthumously. It was accepted by his son, balloonist Bertrand Piccard, the first person to complete a nonstop, round-the-world balloon flight.
Film director James Cameron, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, became the third person to explore the Mariana Trench, on March 26.
Cameron participated in the program at the society’s headquarters, which included a viewing of “Titanic: 100 Year Obsession,” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking.
Cameron, director of the blockbuster “Titanic,” and Stewart Wicht, Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc. chief executive, admired a model of the ship. Both sported Rolex’s Sea-dweller Deepsea. Rolex sponsored Cameron’s recent expedition as well as the event last night.
Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic’s remains in 1985, said his favorite item in the exhibition was a model of the wreckage.
At the party after the awards presentation, bubbles fell from the ceiling and frosty mist rose from the floor.
Chef Barton Seaver studied the meals served on the Titanic to determine his own menu. One of his offerings was Waldorf salad, a preferred dish onboard.
Papier-Mache
Belgian Ambassador Jan Matthysen was at the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens Thursday night for the opening of “Pret-a-Papier: The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave.”
De Borchgrave, a Belgian artist, created floral hand fans for the more than 300 guests; June breezes made them unnecessary.
A few fireflies could be seen in the garden during dinner, which included Belgian endive salad, Belgian frites and Belgian chocolate ganache.
Hillwood, the former home of the late heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, opened to the public as a museum in 1977. It houses Russian and French art and boasts a 25-acre landscaped garden.
George Floyd, a partner with Brown Advisory Securities, a major sponsor of the event, said he became a supporter of Hillwood because Ellen Charles, his sister-in-law, is Post’s granddaughter.
Charles sat at de Borchgrave’s and Matthysen’s table, near philanthropist Nina Pillsbury.
After the meal, guests walked through the mansion to look at the exhibition, which features historic dresses and costumes, like those of Empress Josephine, made with papier-mache. Many of the designs were inspired by paintings in the Hillwood collection, such as “Portrait of Countess Samoilova” by Karl Pavlovich Briullov.
“Can it be?” asked Laura Bisogniero, the wife of Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, to no one in particular, while she marveled at a dainty papier-mache tiara, modeled after the countess’s.
The event raised almost $100,000 for Hillwood. The exhibition opens to the public Saturday.
(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Muse highlights include Jeremy Gerard on theater.
To contact the writer on this story: Stephanie Green in Washington at sgreen57@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @stephlgreen.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Film director and explorer James Cameron and Rolex U.S.A. CEO Stewart Wicht.
Film director and explorer James Cameron and Rolex U.S.A. CEO Stewart Wicht. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
National Geographic explorer-in-residence Meave Leakey, a paleontologist.
National Geographic explorer-in-residence Meave Leakey, a paleontologist. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
The Rolex Sea-dweller Deepsea.
The Rolex Sea-dweller Deepsea. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Terrence B. Adamson, executive vice president at National Geographic Society, and Terry Garcia, executive vice president of mission programs at National Geographic Society.
Terrence B. Adamson, executive vice president at National Geographic Society, and Terry Garcia, executive vice president of mission programs at National Geographic Society. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Explorer Robert Ballard who discovered the Titanic wreck.
Explorer Robert Ballard who discovered the Titanic wreck. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Balloonist Bertrand Piccard.
Balloonist Bertrand Piccard. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Heidi Fahey, wife of the chairman and CEO of the National Geographic Society, John Fahey, and Gail Percy, wife of explorer-in-residence Wade Davis.
Heidi Fahey, wife of the chairman and CEO of the National Geographic Society, John Fahey, and Gail Percy, wife of explorer-in-residence Wade Davis. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and anthropologist Kenny Broad.
Mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and anthropologist Kenny Broad. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Evening of Exploration
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
The scene at the National Geographic Society's "Evening of Exploration" after party.
The scene at the National Geographic Society's "Evening of Exploration" after party. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Hillwood Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, Belgian ambassador Jan Matthysen, and his wife, Agnes Aerts at the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens opening gala for "Pret-a-Papier: The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave."
Artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, Belgian ambassador Jan Matthysen, and his wife, Agnes Aerts at the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens opening gala for "Pret-a-Papier: The Exquisite Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave." Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Hillwood Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Ellen Charles, a granddaughter of Marjorie Merriweather Post and the president of the board at Hillwood, and Joyce Farr.
Ellen Charles, a granddaughter of Marjorie Merriweather Post and the president of the board at Hillwood, and Joyce Farr. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Hillwood Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
George Floyd and John Chapoton, both partners with Brown Advisory Securities.
George Floyd and John Chapoton, both partners with Brown Advisory Securities. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Hillwood Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Laura Bisogniero and Agnes Matthysen in front of a papier-mache dress inspired by the Hillwood painting, "Portrait of the Countess of Samoilova."
Laura Bisogniero and Agnes Matthysen in front of a papier-mache dress inspired by the Hillwood painting, "Portrait of the Countess of Samoilova." Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Hillwood Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Guests admire paintings at Hillwood, the former home of the late heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, now a museum.
Guests admire paintings at Hillwood, the former home of the late heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, now a museum. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Hillwood Gala
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Joseph C. Dunn, president and CEO of Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency, and Nina Pillsbury.
Joseph C. Dunn, president and CEO of Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency, and Nina Pillsbury. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
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