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A Slim And Trim Art Ball Had All The Form And Function For Dallas Museum Of Art Fundraising

Jun 7, 2019 1:30 PM by Jeanne Prejean

As riders on scooters rolled along the sidewalk from Klyde Warren Park to Ross Avenue, they encountered highly fashionable moving obstacles as guests at the 2019 Art Ball arrived on Saturday, April 27, at the tented gala benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art.

Organizers disclosed that attendance for the 54th annual bash at the art museum would be around 365. Hearing this one black-tie guest expressed surprise, claiming the total was fewer than in years past. And indeed, MIA this year were such heavyweight names as Eagle, Hobson, Jones and Cooley.

The DMA fundraiser had been slimmed down some since the departure of DMA headman Max Anderson, transitioning from over-the-top hoopla to lean-and-mean elegance. No more film productions a la “Downton Abbey” and “Uptown Funk,” or major-league entertainers like John Legend and Solange Knowles. Under DMA Eugene McDermott Director Agustin Arteaga, Art Ball 2019 was dubbed “Form + Function — A Celebration of Craftsmanship Throughout the Collection,” with plenty of class and a tad bit less circus.

Michelle Rawlings
Catherine Rose
Bill and Mandy Dillard
Lindsey Collins and Amanda Shufeldt

As for the entertainment in the reception area, it was people and fashion-watching. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings had a duet of dates — wife Micki Rawlings and daughter Michelle Rawlings. Hizzoner said he was going to be focusing on “four or five” trips and then his private-equity business once he leaves office. … Mandy and Bill Dillard were in from Arkansas for daughter Amanda Shufeldt, who was co-chairing the evening along with Lindsey Collins. … DMA Board of Trustees President Catherine Rose was in a delicious pink Emilia Wickstead gown with a floor-length green bow. It was so Jackie Kennedy Onassis…. Carol Glendenning arrived with Michael Seeligson since husband Don Glendenning was out of town for a conference. … Shonn Brown, sans husband Clarence Brown, had done her own makeup and dusted herself with sparkle powder.

Michael Seeligson and Carol Glendenning
Carlos Gonzalez-Jaime, Shonn Brown and Agustin Arteaga
Don and Barbara Daseke and Jo Staffelbach Heinz and Andre Staffelbach
Students working on the mural

Catering mistress Cassandra made sure that Micki Rawlings was going to be served Pinot Grigio (“She doesn’t like Chardonnay”) … Designing types Andre Staffelbach and Jo Staffelbach Heinz and Barbara Daseke, with trucking czar husband Don Daseke, commandeered a high-top table near a group of four students working on a wall mural. … Geoffroy van Raemdonck and Alvise Orsini along with Mimi Sterling arrived toting Neiman Marcus bags. … Thomas Hartland-Mackie said he was focusing on “mostly kids” these days, along with opening dozens of new locations (37 last year, 45 in 2019) for his wholesale City Electric Supply company. … Dirk Nowitzki, with wife Jessica Nowitzki looking on nearby, was asked what kind of art he prefers. “I like more contemporary art,” Dirk smiled, nodding toward his better half. “I’m learning.”

Alvise Orsini, Geoffroy van Raemdonck and Mimi Sterling
Mike and Dana Arnold, Megan Looney and Thomas Hartland-Mackie

Earlier in the evening, a security guard at the front door was told that among the arriving guests would be “Fancy Nancy.” He asked, “How will I know which one she is?” The answer: “You’ll know.” The guard smiled as all the arrivals were looking pretty darn fancy as they pulled up in their spotless luxury vehicles to be greeted by name by the valets. But after a final call was made for guests to take their seats for dinner, a trio arrived and the security guard gave a thumbs-up that “Fancy Nancy” had indeed arrived. It was, of course, Nancy Rogers, in Dior, accompanied by pals Michael Flores and Douglas Carney.

Douglas Carney, Nancy C. Rogers and Michael Flores
Nancy Dedman and Brad Kelly
Nancy Cain Marcus and Don Fischer
Moll and Charlie Anderson
Kara and Randall Goss
Reed and Kristen Gibbins
Fraser and Rhonda Marcus

Inside the ballroom, the temperature was meat-locker cold with the plan that, once the room filled, the body count would raise the temperature. However, some ladies, like Nancy Cain Marcus, sought more immediate comfort wearing their date’s jackets. In Nancy’s case, the wrap belonged to Don Fischer. … Others spotted in the ballroom included Moll and Charlie Anderson, Kara and Randall Goss, Erin Duvall with Clane LaCrosse, Kristen and Reed Gibbins, Rhonda and Fraser Marcus, Crawford Brock, Laura Roosevelt with Brad Hillinger, Brian Bolke and Faisal Halum, Marlene and John Sughrue, Mary McDermott Cook with Dan Patterson, Kelli and Gerald Ford, Becca Cason with Ceron, Cara and Jim French and Kelli and Allen Questrom.

Kelli Ford, Electra Ford, Kelli Ford and Jerry Ford
Meredith and Mark Plunkett
Kelli and Allen Questrom
Michael McCray, Brian Bolke, Gonzalo Bueno and Faisal Halum

As the evening proceeded, guests enjoyed a three-course seated dinner (think citrus-crusted salmon and pan-roasted merluza, plus desserts), entertainment by Eclipse dancers, a live auction of nine items conducted by Robby Gordy of Christie’s New York, and an after-party presided over by DJ Elusive.

A highlight of the live auction was the trip to Mexico for eight people, with Agustin as tour guide. When the bidding hit the six-figure mark, the two top contenders were satisfied by each getting their wished-for-trip at $110,000 each.

Still another event memory-maker came on the dance floor, when one tall-drink-of-water gal wrapped one of her long legs around her fella.

Proceeds from the gala directly benefit the DMA’s collection and special exhibitions, as well as its public programs.

Filed Under: A black tie affair, After party, Arts, Auction, Dinner, Entertainment, Events, Fund raiser, Live auction, Philanthropy, Visual art Tagged With: Agustín Arteaga, Allen Questrom, Alvise Orsini, Amanda Shufeldt, Andre Staffelbach, Barbara Daseke, Becca Cason, Bill Dillard, Brad Hillinger, Brian Bolke, Cara French, Carol Glendenning, Cassandra, Catherine Rose, Ceron, Charles Anderson, Clane LaCrosse, Clarence Brown, Crawford Brock, Dan Patterson, Dirk Nowitzki, DJ Elusive, Don Daseke, Don Fischer, Don Glendenning, Douglas Carney, Emilia Wickstead, Erin Duvall, Faisal Halum, Fraser Marcus, Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Gerald Ford, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Jessica Nowitzki, Jim French, Jo Staffelbach Heinz, John Legend, John Sughrue, Kara Goss, Kelli Ford, Kelli Questrom, Kristen Gibbins, Laura Roosevelt, Lindsey Collins, Mandy Dillard, Marlene Sughrue, Mary McDermott Cook, Max Anderson, Michael Flores, Michael Seeligson, Michelle Rawlings, Micki Rawlings, Mike Rawlings, Mimi Sterling, Moll Anderson, Nancy Cain Marcus, Nancy Rogers, Randall Goss, Reed Gibbins, Rhonda Marcus, Robby Gordy, Shonn Brown, Solange Knowles, Thomas Hartland-Mackie

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