The 50th anniversary of the Dallas Museum of Art’s annual black tied fundraiser was a really big deal — Artball 50: Self-Portrait. No, the crane that fell on the DMA earlier in the week was not part of the celebration, but it certainly drew news coverage of the upcoming fundraiser on Saturday, April 11.
As guests arrived at the ceremonial entrance on Ross, they discovered a Forty Five Ten pop-up shop at the top of the promenade leading to the mega tent. There were the so very softy Elder Statesman Cashmere lingerie set ($1,450), a lineup of Edward Bess “Dallas Pink” lipsticks ($35), Moschino gown ($2,550) and all types of items curated by Forty Five Ten’s Brian Bolke. Alas, the Loewe Runway Shopper had already been snapped up for a cool $3,950.
Once past the boutique, the guests entered the tented reception area. Just as the place was about to bust, the curtains on the east side opened to the ballroom. Here massive lit balls floated overhead with ever-changing faces and eyes staring at the guests below.
Event planner Todd Fiscus, instead of trying to hide the massive orange “Ave” sculpture, embraced it by placing the stage for singer Kitty Carmichael and her band just under it. Against the wall through which guests had arrived was the stage for comments and the live auction.
As guests took their seats around 8:15, past DMA Chairman of the Board Walter Elcock officially welcomed the crowd, adding, “This is supposed to be fun…so, if you don’t do anything, have fun tonight!”
He was followed by DMA Eugene McDermott Director Max Anderson, who shushed the talkative crowd and thanked Gala Chair Nancy Carlson and touted impressive statistics from the past year: 700,000 total visitors to the DMA, of which 28% were Latino and 13% were African-American.
Dinner consisted of Caviar Cloche (celeriac panna cotta, slow-cooked quail egg, chive crema American sturgeon caviar and celery chips), Still Life (pan-roasted wild turbot, fava-cumin puree and cauliflower couscous, spring vegetables and tomato jam), Framed Game (Maple Leaf Farms duck confit, spring pea goat cheese ravioli, Apple-smoked bacon and charred pearl onions with Parmesan cream sauce) and Sweet Triptych (Lemon curd goat cheese mascarpone chocolate tart with Thyme-cardamom berries, Pavlova, passion fruit, basil with olive oil powder and vanilla bean fromage blanc, apricot shortbread with honey and balsamic pearls).
Unlike “Downtown Artsy,” the sponsor video of two years ago that used the Downton Abbey theme, this year’s video “Artball Funk” was upbeat, having local art lovers making fun of themselves (Max and Mayor Mike Rawlings in hair curlers, Cindy Rachofsky shining shoes, Nancy Carlson stiletto strutting, etc.). It was a clever way to stealthily promote the sponsors.
By the time that Christie’s auctioneer Hugh Edmeades took over the stage in his black velvet evening jacket, he had to use his best British “shush” to get the attention of the crowd. He found himself shushing a few more times during his part of the program. A couple of the highlights of the auction were:
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A DMA parking space for a year (Value: Priceless) — Tablemates Deedie Rose and Marguerite Hoffman got into a playful bidding war, with Deedie claiming rights for $15,000. One local attorney, upon hearing what the spot went for, commented, “For $12,000, I’ll drive you there and pick you up, anytime, anywhere.” The big question will be whether Deedie’s daughter, Lela (Rose), will decorate the space.
- Marfa Daytrip (Value: $15,000) — When the trip for seven to Marfa went up for bid, one oldtimer sniffed, “You couldn’t pay me $10,000 to go to Marfa.” Another fella across the table responded, “You could buy Marfa for $10,000.”
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Dinner at Grange Hall for 22 (Value: $30,000) — This one resulted in a showdown of the BIDs (Blondes In Diamonds) — Nancy Rogers in diamonds and sapphires and Georgina Hartland in diamonds and aquamarines. It was the last item up for bid and both gals wanted it. The listed value was $30,000. But that number was passed early on. As the dollars rose, so did the ladies. Wielding their paddles like sabers, neither was backing down. In the meantime, heads were shifting back and forth from Nancy to Georgina, back to Nancy. At times, it appeared as if the gala had turned into a tennis tournament. Finally, when the bid hit $100,000, hairdresser Michael Flores got Hugh’s ear and whispered something that appeared to remedy the bidding war. The solution would be that each lady could have her own supper for 22 at Grange Hall for $100,000. It was a happily-ever-after ending, with Nancy and Georgina hugging each other and DMA staffers looking very, very happy.
Then the sponsor video was replayed as guests returned to the reception area, where the after-party was underway with Solange Knowles at the helm. It was rather remarkable that Solange was there at all. Just a few days before her business manager Armina Mussa had been stabbed and Solange had canceled appearances to be by her bedside. But Beyonce’s little sister had no time to rest. The next morning she headed to California to attend her mom’s wedding aboard a yacht in Newport Beach to Richard Lawson.
There was so much going on, from fashion to fun, so here is a breakdown of fashion plates and snapshots:
Fashion Plates
For fashion lovers, the Art Ball 50 is traditionally a feast of fabrics, colors and designs. But this year the clothing seemed to be on steroids. There were simply way too many to go into detail, so here’s a rundown of guests and their designers: Nancy Carlson (Versace), Nancy Rogers ( Rosie Assoulin), Dallas Snadon (Chanel), Kathleen Hutchinson (Alexander McQueen), Molly Barnes (Roberto Cavalli), Julie Hawes (Altuzarra), Melissa Bank (La Petit Robe de Chiari Boni), Sharon Young (Roland Mouret), Nikki (Angela Sanchez) and Crayton Webb (Brooks Brother white evening jacket and Turnbull & Asser bowtie), Suzanne Droese (Lanvin), Lynn McBee (Elie Saab), Pat (Libertine) and Charles McEvoy (Zegna), Claire Emanuelson (Lanvin), Catherine Rose (Rosie Assoulin), Juliette Aston (Fauto Puglisi), Anne (Monique Lhuillier) and Steve Stodghill (Haleigh’s tuxedo and Jimmy Choo shoes), Brian Bolke (Givenchy), Selwyn Rayzor (Balenciaga), Jennifer (Tom Ford) and Tom Karol (Dior), Jeri Kleiman (Michael Faircloth), Amanda Johnson (Badgley Mischka), Georgina Hartland (Dennis Basso Couture), Nasiba (Valentino) and Thomas Hartland-Mackie (Tom Ford), Vinnie (Chloe) and Malcolm Reuben (Armani), Janet (Vionnet) and Crawford Brock (Brunello Cucinelli, Olivia Kearney (Naeem Kahn), Merry Vose (Roksanda), Kimberly Chandler (Juan Carlos Obando) and Browne Andrews (Ann Demeulemeester).
Of course, there were one or two that deserved some explanation. Jacqueline Anderson had eyes popping in her Mikael D. Seems that she had come directly from Neiman’s after being fitted into the figure-loving gown with its deep-diving neckline and sweeping train…Jennifer Clark channeled Scarlett O’Hara. She’d had Michael Faircloth create her skirt out of drapery material…Heidi Dillon’s Dior short black dress and shoes were engulfed in a sweeping Moschino cape that was reminiscent of Budweiser…Fav accessory of the night: Spanx!
If you want a gander of the fashions, check out the photos on MySweetCharity Photo Gallery. Most of ’em are there!
Snapshots
One chap, who snuck in under the very fashionable crowd’s radar, was Bruce Hoeksema with CenterStage Chair Yvette Ostolaza. Yes, the extremely good looking Bruce is an established jewelry and leather designer in his own right, but he was also designer Valentino’s companion for 30 years, as well as an executive with the acclaimed fashion house before starting his own company. The story of this Midwest, “aw shucks” fella is one worth reading. Dang, now don’t you wish you’d met him?…Philanthropist Margaret McDermott was one of the first to arrive along with the Seeligson clan (Molly, John and Michael)…Niven Morgan and Shelby Wagner reported that they were getting married the following week in Florida…
Jeff Kearney was being congratulated about being elected to the hall of fame for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association…Marguerite Hoffman danced to the disco music all the way up to the receiving line with Jacqueline and Max Anderson…Speaking of the receiving line, some folks bypassed it as if they were on the way to a sale. A vet laughed: they must “be from a different part of Texas”…
Since the Mavs were playing, Mav wife Kimberly Chandler was with her brother Browne Andrews, and new mom Jessica Nowitzki was with the Hartland-Mackies…Kenny Goss admitted that following the MTV Re:Define the night before, he headed to Whataburger at 2 a.m….When Jennifer Karol was seen sidling up
to Mayor Mike Rawlings, she laughed, “It’s no big deal. I was his campaign fundraiser when he first ran for mayor.”… Olivia Kearney learned from Katy Bock about an amazing facial mask (SK II). Seems Katy had used it on husband Lawrence, whose mother asked if he’d had a face lift. Upon learning the cost of the treatment, one person said, “It ain’t cheap, but it’s cheaper than plastic surgery and doesn’t hurt.”…Subject of the night that rarely came up: the toppling of the crane on the DMA…One gent said to his dinner table companion, “I didn’t know Elaine (Agather) could sing.” Seems songbird Kitty Carmichael on stage resembled the banker. As for Elaine, she was at the Master’s. However, she did make a couple of cameo appearances in the Artball Funk sponsor video…Caterer Cassandra made the rounds checking tables to see which menu items were being gobbled up. When confronted about the main entrée — duck — she admitted that it was a tricky choice. People either love duck or don’t. As some guests hit the dance floor at the after-party, others headed home. However, two couples were heard telling their driver to hit the Burger King drive-thru.