When she thought of helping in some way, she thought of her husband Jack. Jack Whiteman, who had died the year before, had owned the Caterpillar dealership here. He established a foundation at his company for art. His primary interest was arts education. As it turned out, the ballet's announced closing date was Jack's birthday.
Patronage usually begins with some sort of passion.
Theirs is the Native American strain. The living-room mantel holds three ceramic plates by the renowned potter Maria Martinez. An abstract sculpture in greenish soapstone by New Mexico artist Allan Houser is parked not far away. Native American paintings, textiles and baskets fill the rest of the walls and nooks in the room and nearby hallway. Inuit sculptures, mostly in whale bone and soapstone, have commandeered nearly every other surface in the house.