What: Art Dinner 2019
Where: Laguna Gloria
The lowdown: Three hundred glamorous Austin art patrons got a sneak peek of Laguna Gloria's picture perfect new refresh during a swanky mid-spring dinner. On April 16, the lakeside museum, part of The Contemporary Austin, unveiled the Moody Pavilions, a multimillion-dollar project to create a new visitor's center and arrival garden, museum shop, and the second outpost of the beloved Epicerie. The new pavilions officially open on May 11 with a free, open-to-all event.
Considering the Art Dinner, now in its sixth year, is quickly becoming Austin's version of The Met Gala, guests indeed donned their very best for the occasion. The evening began with an al fresco cocktail hour — and also gave patrons a look at Jessica Stockholder's newest installation, Save on select landscape & outdoor lighting: Song to mind uncouples, which now greets museum visitors.
The cocktail hour also gave partygoers a chance to peruse the auction items situated inside the Driscoll Villa. Artists with work on the block included Ai Weiwei, Sarah Crowner, Abraham Cruzvillegas, N. Dash, Elmgreen & Dragset, Anya Gallaccio, The Haas Brothers, Jim Hodges, Jessica Stockholder, Do Ho Suh, Ursula Von Rydingsvard, and Garth Weiser.
In addition to raising funds for the museum's exhibition programs, attendees also donated $550,000 to permanently acquire Jim Hodges' With Liberty and Justice For All (A Work in Progress), the wraparound sculpture atop The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center.
For dinner, guests took their seats in clear tents situated around Tom Friedman's now iconic 33-foot steel sculpture, Looking Up. Rosemary's Catering provided a lavish, multi-course dinner complete with pairings by Austin Wine Merchant, followed by bites by Bakery Lorraine and Maybelle's Donuts.
The evening also served as a sort of farewell to Louis Grachos,CEO and executive director for The Contemporary Austin. Just a few days prior, Grachos announced he was stepping down to take over the same position at the Palm Springs Art Museum in California.
But despite the sad goodbye, the fun didn't stop. As dinner wound down, the dance floor heated up and Art Dinner patrons continued to party for a good cause.
Who: Lora Reynolds, Kristin Gish, Louis Grachos, Danneel Ackles, Anne Campbell, Justine Lyn, Akin Francis, Mikey James and Alyssa James, Danneel Ackles, Steven Carlsen, Callie Jenschke, Kim West, Teresa Windham and Darrell Windham, Deborah Dupré, Lorena Junco Margain, Arron Hester, Martha Small Dyess, Jessica Hester, and Chuck Gordon.
Anne Campbell.
