George N Boone

There's always a crowd out back at the Boone house. They're a quiet bunch, to be sure, but they have plenty to say for themselves nevertheless. A bronze nymph reclines by the pool, a steel gymnast balances near a hedge. Across the yard, a ceramic dog waits-perhaps for art lover George N. Boone, who relishes coming home to the nearly 50 pieces in what he calls his 'Boone Garden of Sculptures.'

There's always a crowd out back at the Boone house. They're a quiet bunch, to be sure, but they have plenty to say for themselves nevertheless. A bronze nymph reclines by the pool, a steel gymnast balances near a hedge. Across the yard, a ceramic dog waits-perhaps for art lover George N. Boone, who relishes coming home to the nearly 50 pieces in what he calls his 'Boone Garden of Sculptures.'

Attorney Daniel N. Belin on Wednesday was elected president of the board of trustees at the County Museum of Art. He succeeds Julian Ganz Jr., who has served for four years and will now become chairman of the board. In other actions at the annual board meeting, Camilla Frost was elected chairman of the executive committee, a newly created position. Charles E. Ducommun and Robert F. Maguire III were made vice presidents for the next term, Bobbe Pagen secretary and Eric Lidow treasurer.

Mark Dowie's "Charity for Profit" (Opinion, Nov. 23) certainly highlights what appears to be a segment of philanthropy motivated by self-interest. Although motivation is indeed a worthy inquiry, in this case of "charity networking" I have two concerns: 1) At least these people of wealth give, while many give nothing, and 2) it's unfortunate that this type of giving tends to avoid the small, less visible, grass-roots charities struggling to survive. As a fund-raiser for nonprofit organizations, my main concern is that this article may reinforce a negative image of donors when in fact most philanthropists are value-driven, with the highest of charitable motivations, and are excellent role models.

Trustees of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, citing the gloomy economy, voted this week to put on hold plans for a new building, a massive structure on stilts designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. It was intended to replace virtually every building on the museum campus. "It is not dead. It is on hold. That's a long way from dead," said Walter Weisman, chairman of the board.

The perception of what is good or bad architecture is subjective, to say the least, and vastly differs, depending on one's objectivity. With the added benefit of hindsight, buildings are more than likely to be viewed quite differently, for better or for worse. The Forum for Architecture, a public outreach program of theAmerican Institute of Architects' Foundation, has published the results of its 1985 poll that ranks the top 10 buildings in the United States.