Pictured at the "March for Babies" is WCVB-TV's Liz Brunner, second from right, with members of her team: Susan Glover, left; Lindsay Glover, right; and noted man-about-town and "Superlative" volunteer, Conrado Bondoc of Boston.
(Photo by Ed Doherty)
 
Members of the Boston community recently joined together by the thousands to raise more than $600,000 for the "March for Babies" to benefit all babies-those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive.

"I am proud that Boston residents joined together to support the health of all babies," said Matt Martel 2008 "March for Babies" Chair. "The efforts made and money raised by our volunteers this year will help the March of Dimes achieve its goal of ensuring that every baby has a healthy start in life that much sooner."

In Boston, "March for Babies" was an exciting event. Liz Brunner from WCVB was the event MC with Julie Devereaux from 105.7 WROR. Attendees enjoyed music from a live band along with kid's activities from the famous Clown Around Town bus.

The March of Dimes is there for all babies. For more information about the March of Dimes and events in Massachusetts, visit www.marchofdimes.com/ma.

Eire Society Bestows 2008 Gold Medal

The Eire Society of Boston recently bestowed the 2008 Gold Medal award to UMass Boston Professor Padraig O'Malley, the Dublin-born peace negotiator and author, at its "Gold Medal Dinner and Awards Ceremony," held at the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston.

Special guests included James T. Brett of the New England Council, Irish Consul General David Barry, and Boston Globe writer Kevin Cullen, the evening's Toastmaster of Ceremonies.

Among those enjoying the evening's festivities were Mary Ellen Collins, Barbara and Bill Fitzgerald, Jim and Mary Kerrigan, and Ann and Tom Walsh, to name a few.

The Eire Society's Gold Medal is awarded annually to a person of who has made significant contributions to benefit society and to their chosen fields of expertise. Previous recipients include filmmakers John Ford and John Huston; Irish actresses Siobhan McKenna and Maureen O'Hara; Irish poet Seamus Heaney; U.S. Ambassadors to Ireland William V. Shannon and Jean Kennedy Smith; former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John W. McCormack; and President John F. Kennedy.

Dempster Exhibit at M2L Gallery through June 27

On May 13 the M2L Gallery hosted a cocktail reception for the opening of Bermuda artist Dan Dempster's new exhibit, "Tide Pools: Fractal Shallows," described as "unusual studies of nature rarely seen."

This is the first Boston showing of an artist whose work has been seen and celebrated in Bermuda, Manhattan, Newport News, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. A listed artist and member of the Bermuda Society of Art, Dempster is a recent resident of Boston, where he lives with his wife Sharon, and baby Dylan.

Dempster has been studying and painting the patterns of light, shallow water and rock since 1986. A Coastal Artist, his background in fine art, physics and animation brings a unique skill set to tackle "technically complex subjects with truth, finesse and elegant style." These are carefully conceived and created graphite powder-and-conte chalk studies on 48" x 48" panels revealing fascinating structures.

"Tide Pools...." will be on view at the M2L gallery through June 27. The gallery is located at 104 Boylston Street, next to the Colonial Theatre. Incidentally, we are told that the name "M2L" means "More to love."

ICA Raises $75 Million

Congratulations are in order to The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, which recently announced the successful completion of a capital campaign to build Boston's first new art museum in 100 years. With an original goal of $50 million, the museum, which opened to international acclaim in December 2006, reported it surpassed the goal, raising $75 million.

The ICA celebrated the completion of the campaign and thanked its donors at the ICA's "Sapphire Necklace Gala," held on May 9 at the waterfront museum.

More than 700 people gave to the Campaign for the New ICA, launched in April 2000. With $66 million raised by December 2006, the museum opened its stunning new building on the Boston waterfront, a 65,000-square-foot, multidisciplinary institution that has become one of the city's most recognized architectural landmarks.

The building, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, was the 2007 recipient of the Harleston Parker Medal, presented periodically to the "most beautiful building" in the greater Boston area by the Boston Society of Architects and the City of Boston.

In its first full year on the waterfront, the museum's attendance reached more than 300,000 visitors (including paid admission, opening events, and theater and education programs), well exceeding the projected attendance of 225,000. More than 10,000 people visited the museum through the group tour program. Membership surpassed 11,000 households in the first year (compared to 1,347 in the year before moving to the new building).

The second year is proving to be equally strong, with solo museum exhibitions of sculptors Anish Kapoor--the first of the Turner Prize-winning artist in the U.S. in 15 years--and Tara Donovan, and numerous acquisitions to the ICA's new permanent collection.

The ICA is located at 100 Northern Avenue in Boston. Admission is free on "Target Free Thursday Nights," from 5-9 p.m. For more information, call 617-478-3100 or visit www.icaboston.org.

Enjoy!

In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..." 
is compiled from various other sources such as news releases, PRNewswire services, etc.

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