From the Pastel Society of America,
Claudia Seymour, PSA Signature member and President of the Salmagundi Club, NYC, has announced that Mrs. Flora B. Giffuni, founder of the Pastel Society of America, advisor in the founding of over thirty pastel societies, and patron of the Flora B. Giffuni Gallery for Pastels at the Butler Institute for American Art, will receive the Salmagundi Medal of Honor at the club’s President’s Dinner on April 23rd. This is the highest honor the 138 year-old artists’ club bestows upon an artist.
Rae Smith, President of PSA, Jimmy Wright, PSA treasurer and O. Aldon James, President of The National Arts Club, will give tribute to Flora at the dinner. Salmagundi President Claudia Seymour will present the Medal on behalf of the club’s Board of Directors and membership.
Flora is the person who introduced pastel to contemporary America. Artists, collectors, art material manufacturers, and publishers owe her a debt of gratitude for her non-wavering enthusiasm and generosity to the pastel community.
This year will mark a milestone birthday for Flora (90!). Though you may never have met Flora Giffuni, and if you are so moved, you can write her a note of congratulations on receiving this honor, care of the Pastel Society of America, 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003.
(painting of Flora B. Giffuni by Joe Hing Lowe)
