New kids on the block might have thought that the main topic at the Art Ball 50 patron party on Wednesday, April 8, would have been the crane that nested on the Dallas Museum of Art on the past Good Friday.
Sorry. But that was so yesterday’s news. Instead it was a competition between the fashion plates at the party and the dressed-up house … no, make that killer mansion … of Nasiba and Thomas Hartland-Mackie.
As 100 guests like Kelly and Allen Questrom, Jennifer and Tom Karol, Merry and Chad Vose, Ann and Lee Hobson, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Nancy and Robbie Briggs, Pat and Charles McEvoy, Nancy Rogers, Simona Beal, Kara and Randall Goss, Anna-Sophia van Zweden and Julie Hawes arrived at the Volks Estate estate via the way bigger-than-huge silver frames on either side of the front doors, they discovered the silver pointed balloons hovering overhead in the entry halls. And then there was the study with its backdrop of gigantic Brillo boxes as a photo backdrop.
And what about that Texas-size “DMA” in silver fronting the cabana and the silver balls floating in the pool?
Dressed in black bowtie for the evening was Gerber baby lookalike little Mr. Hartland-Macke, who was being squired around by smiling grandmama Georgina Hartland.
In the dining room was a sneak peek of the Brian Bolke-curated pop-up shop that would be up for grabs at Saturday’s DMA fundraiser. Well, OMG! Talk about $225,000 of delicious items. Elder Statesman beige cashmere softer-than-soft lingerie going for $1,400. A briefcase by Proenza Schouler that would seal a deal before even entering negotiations could be snapped up for $2,150. A one-of-a-kind $100,000 Hoorsenbuhs Forever Mark Diamond cuff twinkled. Somehow Brian had put the ask out to his Forty Five Ten vendors and the first wave of the asks signed up immediately donating the merchandise. Talk about some kind of wonderful.
When DMA top guy Max Anderson took over the mic and wife long-haired Jacqueline in white looking lean and adoring joined the crowd in listening to him, he thanked all and asked, “Where’s Nancy?” He was talking about Art Ball 50 Chair Nancy Carlson, who was way in the back. Shannon Wynne hollered out, “Somebody get Nancy!”
Before Max finished the presentation, Nancy appeared to applause.
Only problem with the evening? It set the bar awfully high. It’ll be hard to imagine the Art Ball topping this one.