Christina Getty-Maercks, George Lindemann, and Criselda Breene
By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
A Night at the Museum
Despite the fact that we are huge art buffs, and have delighted in the works of the Masters at museums throughout the world, we couldn’t recall a time when we had actually had fun in an art museum (with the exception of the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence where we had our way with Michelangelo’s slaves and David in our early twenties). This changed on Thursday, April 26 at the Bass Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser “A Night at the Museum,” for which the museum should have been renamed the “BLAST” museum; as many of Miami’s chicest and most artsy socialites gathered after hours to socialize, chat, nosh, dance and enjoy the fantastic exhibits, which became more and more interesting with every cocktail.
The night seemed like an Art Basel reunion- with fabulous people- dressed to the nines- mingling with those whom we affectionately call “Art Freaks” because they stretch the limits of fashion: blue hair paired with a purple Joker suit, a suit of armor made of soda can pop tops-you get the idea.
Guests were fascinated by the new exhibition, Charles LeDray: Bass Museum of Art comprised of dozens of colorful tiny suits, (we’re talking newborn size, complete with tiny ties, tiny hangers, a tiny laundry bag- the works!) and miniature ceramic vessels in towering vitrines. We were blown away by LeDray’s perspective and attention to scale and detail. Hors d’oeuvres and delicious black rice and risotto by TiramesU; libations by Mandarine Napoleon, Kanon Organic Vodka and Perrier; desserts by Stella’s Sweet Shoppe; and beats by Vida’s house DJ just added to the magic of the evening.
The innovative silent auction featured custom art experiences, a studio visit and catered lunch with artist Carlos Betancourt and a private tour of WSVN 7 studios and dinner with Deco Drive anchor, Louis Aguirre. Special guests included: Executive Director and Chief Curator Silvia Karman Cubiñá and Bass Museum of Art Board President George Lindemann; co-chairs Criselda Breene & Christina Getty-Maercks; exhibiting artist Charles LeDray and local artists: Augustina Woodgate, Manny Prieres, Frances Trombly, Leyden Rodríguez- Casanova, Carlos Betancourt, and Christina Lei Rodriguez; gallerists Fred Snitzer, Nina Johnson, David Castillo, and Anthony Spinello; collectors Charles Cowles, Constance & Marty Margulies, and Kathryn Mikesell and Marcella & Daniel Novela; Anthony Shriver, Belkys Nerey, Terence Riley, Fernando Wong, Alison Zhuk, Suzy & Walid Wahab, JP Souto, Nicole Lozano, Patty & Leonard Fluxman; Bass Museum of Art Board Members: Cathy Vedovi, Alan Randolph, Ali Matlick, Hugh Bush, Jonathan Z. Kurry, Jose Miguel Net, Laura Paresky Gould, Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, Ramiro E. del Amo, Richard Toledo, Brian Ehlrich, Sarah Harrelson and husband, interior designer Austin Harrelson and Tom Murphy;Merle and Daniel Weiss, Tara Solomon, Nick D’Annunzio, Suzy Buckley, Daniela Swaebe, Susanne Birbragher and Gingi Beltran, to name a few.
photos credit: World Red Eye.
Kevin Costner Headlines Arsht Center Gala
John Richard, Adrienne Arsht, Mayor Tomas Regalado, Kevin Costner, Raquel Regalado, Mike Eidson and Dr. Margaret Eidson
They built it, and hundreds came…over five hundred fifty of South Florida’s most influential arts patrons and philanthropists- who sported cowboy hats, boots and other western wear for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Gala on April 28, headlined by none other than Kevin Costner. The star of blockbusters: Field of Dreams, The Bodyguard, Bull Durham, and Dances with Wolves (we’ve pretty much named our favorite movies of all time) and his rock & roll band, Modern West (ergo the gala theme) took guests on a musical journey on Saturday night, which began with a moving montage of his movies and an instrumental rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”
The gala took place on the Center’s festival floor under the lights in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall, where attendees enjoyed modern comfort food provided by Barton G. – including sliders, deviled eggs and jalapeno poppers, served family style on a Lazy Susan in the center of the tables while a dashing Costner, channeling Johnny Cash in his head-to-toe black, performed numerous songs. Costner invited Honorary Chair, businesswoman and philanthropist Adrienne Arsht onto the stage and lauded her, along with the other gala supporters in attendance for their efforts in making this the most successful gala in the Arsht Center’s history.
Afterward, Costner asked guests to join him at the foot of the stage for his closing numbers, during which he shook hands and posed for photos with adoring fans. One lucky writer (o.k.-it was me!) got pulled up on stage ala Courtney Cox in the Bruce Springsteen video from the 80s, and got a big smooch from Crash Davis himself! Smitten is an understatement.
Gala attendees included: Performing Arts Center Trust Chairman Mike Eidson and his wife Dr. Margaret Eidson who served as Gala Chairs; Gala Sponsors Armando and Margarita Codina; and Co-Chairs Dan and Trish Bell, M. Anthony and Joyce Burns, Stanley and Gala Cohen, Robert and Tina Furniss-Roe, Kirk Landon and Pamela Garrison, FJ and Abigail Pollak, Jorge and Lorena Rossell, and Gene and Yoly Schaefer. Other notable guests included: Mel and Kitty Martinez; Ambassadors Chuck and Sue Cobb; Ambassador Cristina Barrios; Mayor Tomas Regalado; City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff; Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, School Board Member Raquel Regalado, Dr. Sanford and Beatrice Ziff, President and CEO of the Arsht Center, John Richard and his wife Lynne, John and Nancy Batchelor, Paul and Swanee Di Mare, Leonard and Jayne Abess, Marvin Ross Friedman and Adrienne bon Haes, Robert and Ana-Marie Barlick, Chip Brady and Allison Weiss Brady and Alan and Diane Lieberman. Vice Chairwoman of the Miami Dade County Commission, Audrey Edmonson, was also in attendance and presented Costner with the Key to the County. Gala proceeds will go to support the Center’s mission-driven arts education and community outreach programs, which continue to expand throughout Miami-Dade County.
