IMG_2223The Most Elegant Couple of Kansas City: Rowl’and Along
NOTE: Be sure to watch the IMG_2223 video above of Mr.and Mrs. Rowland dancing in Kirkwood Hall at the Jewel Ball, held at the Museum.
In 2012 I was a surreptitious paparazzi working in security at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. No, not really, my job was to ‘protect the Art. ‘ And I did, at the Exhibit curated by Catherine Futter, ‘ Exposition of Decorative Arts at the World’s Fair to 1935.’
I returned to Kansas City after 30 years away to a job at the Museum, or as we used to call it, ‘The Gallery.’
I had actually spent formative years here as my mother was ‘The Nelson Art Lady’ on Torey Time (children’s) local tv show.
But that’s not the topic. I was a Security Guard. We protected the Art, first and foremost. And another of our duties was working events. This is just one my memories of working the Front Hall at the Jewel Ball. This is a debutante ball that benefits the Kansas City Symphony in addition to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
But that’s another post. This is about the Most Elegant Couple.. Sarah Rowland was the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Nelson-Atkins for five years. I was privileged to be there when she was serving. She was beautiful, poised, gracious, and kind, a graduate of Smith and worked with Condé Nast and the Harvard University Press before moving to KC. There her work focused on the arts, ballet, symphony, preservation, Kansas and Kansas City history and the organizations that support it. and other stuff you can google!
But I mostly remember her as kind and the epitome of a lady.
Her husband Landon was her partner and President and CEO of Kansas City Southern Industries and more. Google him too.
But this was at the ball. She always spoke to me at the Belles of the American Royal Events as Landon Rowland served on the American Royal Board of Governors, but this evening she knew I was ‘at work’ to be as a guard, an unseen presence.
But, I did have my camera (iPhone!). I am sure I probably was breaking some type of NDA or rules ( and I did break a few!) but I saw them ‘on the floor’ and I just had to capture the moment. I believe she was aware for I had my camera ( held below waist) in a visible spot. And, they performed! It was beautiful darling and just what I hoped to be captured.
They are embedded in my mind. The Most Elegant and Giving Couple of Kansas City.
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