New Jaharis Galleries Open

The new Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Art opened at the Art Institute of Chicago, in the couple’s hometown, at a special preview and gala dinner on November 10, 2012. The galleries are the latest philanthropic gift, joining similar galleries dedicated to the art of the Greco-Roman and Byzantine world, primarily at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and also at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. The opening was especially meaningful to Mary Jaharis, who had studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and who expressed joy that the Jaharis Family Foundation was able to establish and support the new galleries and the hope that the new galleries “will serve as a great resource for the Art Institute, its many educational programs, its many visitors and the various communities of the city.” The Art Institute receives 1.6 million visitors a year.

Both Mary and Michael Jaharis are long-time, devoted members of Leadership 100. He is among its Founding Members and serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. Michael Jaharis is also Vice Chairman of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Among the speakers and special guests were His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America who congratulated and thanked the Jaharis family for their latest philanthropic offering, Sir Peter Westmacott, the British Ambassador to the United States, on hand for the visiting exhibition of Byzantine Art from the British Museum, Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, Ioanna Efthymiadou, Greek Consul General, Emily Rafferty, President of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Helen Evans, the Michael and Mary Jaharis curator for Byzantine Art at the Metropolitan.