While the families in shorts and T-shirts enjoyed Klyde Warren Park with their kids and pooches, the swells were lined up just across the Woodall Rodgers frontage road outside the Dallas Museum of Art like a casting call for a remake of “Bonfire of the Vanities.”
Why would people who paid top dollar to attend the Art Ball’s “Untitled” be backed up? Was it a revolving door suffering slow-mo? Was there a metal detector jamming because of all the pricey gems? Nope, none of the above. Seems there was a red-carpet photo shoot with a plethora of photogs shooting each set of guests, plus the prerequisite receiving line — sans last year’s showstopper Jacqueline Buckingham Anderson. Just a couple of days before, Jacqueline had taken to Facebook to announce that she and DMA head honcho husband Max Anderson were divorced. Just imagine! Without even having to pick out an OMG outfit, she was threatening to hijack the evening’s top topics.
No such luck. Her absence didn’t even register after the first hug.
But back to the party fun. Thank heaven, the weather was just right, so neither chill nor sunburn was a problem for those making smallish talk on the sidewalk waiting to get through the photo lineup against the sponsors backdrop. However, some guests dismissed the red carpet as low on the priority list and snuck behind the wall of photogs, bypassing the receiving line.
Allison V. Smith, Barry Whistler and Lela Rose
After a check-in, guests squeezed through the crowd in the Hamon Atrium checking out the walls of silent auction items, and each other. Ralph Gorman proclaimed, “It’s a good skin show. It always is. Lots of places to nibble here, if you can just get friendly.” . . Tanya Foster was having to introduce herself to old friends because of her new “bangs” look. There seem to be more and more bangs appearing around town nowadays. . . Dwight Emanuelson was talking about his upcoming trip to Little Cayman to scuba dive. . .Annette Temple, in an Adrienne Winkelmann, was up from New Zealand to see her buds Holly Reed, Tammy Hartnett and Gillian Breidenbach. Annette appeared to have lost something. Not her luggage, but a pound or two or ten. . . Cerón revealed that he and event producer Todd Fiscus were engaged and had plans for a Big Apple wedding toward New Year’s. . . Designer Lela Rose was chatting with photographer Allison V. Smith and husband/gallery owner Barry Whistler when she discovered that she was anchored in place. Seems a nearby friend’s heel had found a home on the train of Lela’s gown. . . Speaking of which, the flowing trains and billowing gowns worn by Stephanie Roberts in Alexander McQueen, Susan O’Brien in The Row, Erin Mathews in Victoria Beckham, Elaine Agather in Christian Dior, Gala Co-chair Jennifer Karol in skintight Tom Ford, Gala Co-chair Catherine Rose’s mum Heather Marcus in a gown that she designed herself, were breathtaking and, in some cases, a handicap. Seems the extra fabric tended either to stop gals in their tracks when being stepped on, or to sweep up the dropped parmesan garlic popcorn that guests were happily
Catherine Rose
munching by the handful. At one point Co-chair Catherine gathered up the extra fabric of her red-hot Lela Rose gown to make her way through the crowd. . . . The fellows, on the other hand, lucked out. Some, like DMA Chair John Eagle, decided on white dinner jackets.
Faisal Halum
But the more edgy types like Faisal Halum got second looks in his Neil Barrett shirt with a “fake hanging bow tie” pattern.
John Eagle
Speaking of John, he had used his car salesmanship talents to the hilt in signing up Gina Betts to chair the 2014 Art Ball. Seems he “slipped her into a booth at Charlie Palmer and said, ‘You’re gonna sit here until you say yes.’”
What was interesting to note was the usual Art Ball guests who were MIA or merely stopping by. The extra-exclusive set was holding court at Brook Hollow for Charlotte Anderson’s Sweetheart Ball. It was a true test of two black-tie events competing for many of the same big buckeroos. Sweetheart Ball benefiting UT Southwestern vs. Art Ball benefiting DMA? Some hearty souls like Peggy and Carl Sewell Jr. and Lynn and Allan McBee managed to cocktail at the Art Ball and sit down to dine at Sweetheart.
And how did this perfect storm of galas occur? According to organizers, the Art Ball had already locked down its date, and the Sweetheart Ball had to take the same date due to Charlotte’s commitments. No harm for press coverage. Since the media is persona non grata at the Sweetheart Ball, the Art Ball became the go-to event of the night.
But back to the museum. Just as the crowd in the atrium was starting to look like it was going to run out of space, a marching band was heard. Had everyone had one flute of champagne too many? No, a tall guest who towered over the crowd reported, “It’s a marching band on the concourse. I guess it’s the museum’s version of a dinner chime.”
Parmesan garlic popcorn
Good thing, because the gourmet blends of popcorn in plexi-glass containers were starting to wear thin.
As guests walked the concourse to the Ross Plaza, they passed male models dressed as Cartier doormen. When asked, “What are you here for?”, the model responded, “Whatever you want.” Ah, the perfect answer.
Back wall of the tent
Upon entering the three-story tent, guests discovered the back wall was like a glamorous drive-in movie with three towering screens. Speaking of the tent, it was a real memory maker. Seems it had taken more than four days to construct with its elevated flooring. The only mishap was a floor flooding on Wednesday during a downpour. According to Todd, the tent was brought in from Tennessee, thanks to Mahaffey Tent & Party Rentals of Memphis. Covering 18,000 square feet, the 42’ height was required to cover Mark Di Suvero’s “Ave” sculpture. Tent Lesson 101: Most tents average 25 feet in height. Guess it was easier to have the Tennessee tent than to shrink the Di Suvero. BTW, did Todd know how much the mega-tent cost? Todd’s response: “Yes, but I’m not telling you that.”
“Ave” rising above the tent in the days before
As for the color scheme, it was the brainchild of Co-chair Catherine, who loves the minimalist look. So the colors were kept to grey and black with a splash of red.
Eventually all the guests found their way to their assigned seats and Mayor Mike Rawlings kicked off the program saying, “This night raises lots of money for important things. Let’s take this over the top. For those of you from out of town, Dallas is hot. Free admission to the DMA. Now we have to fund it!”
Olivier Meslay, Deedie Rose, Max Anderson, John Eagle, Catherine Rose and Jennifer Karol
Then he introduced a video and everyone settled back for another one of those boast-and-beg ho-hum films. Instead, they got a surprise rip-off of “Downton Abbey.” In this case, it was “Downtown Artsy” starring Max, John, Jennifer, Olivier Meslay, Catherine, the mayor, Cindy Rachofsky and Deedie Rose. For those in the know, it was great fun watching the good mayor serve as a gentleman’s gentleman for “Lord” Max Anderson; John Eagle doing butler duties; and art matriarch Margaret McDermott, a la Dowager Countess of Grantham Violet Crawley, having the last words about the DMA’s free admission: “I told you to do it years ago. But, of course, nobody listens to me.”
What a great way to promote sponsors like The Joule, BMW, Soda Bar at NYLO, Delivery Limited, Inc., AT&T, VISA, and others! However, it was a bit puzzling for those out-of-the-loop types and out-of-towners. Luckily, there were those-in-the-know willing to explain the inside joke.
Caitlin Moe
While guests dined on Maine lobster salad, sous vide wagtu tenderloin and passion-fruit gelee, compressed pineapple, coconut crumble crispy caramel chocolate ball, The Dolls amazed one and all with their performance combining DJ and electric violin. At one point it appeared as if Caitlin Moe was electrified along with her violin.
Then Max told how in 13 years more than $18M had been raised, and that plans called for another record to take place. As he thanked certain key people, he had problems spotting them in the huge ballroom of 800. Young Artists Program sponsors Gene and Jerry Jones were at their daughter’s Sweetheart Ball. Entertainment sponsors Nancy C. and Richard Rogers weren’t in town. Floral and decor underwriter Faye Briggs was way far in the back at her table beneath the Di Suvero sculpture.
Lydia Wickliffe Fenet
Next up was the live auction of only nine items, with Christie’s International Director of Strategic Partnerships Lydia Wickliffe Fenet at the helm. One of the Top Five Auctioneers in New York, she had made a lasting impression at the 2012 Art In Bloom, telling the lunching ladies that she wasn’t going to proceed with the auction until the gals clammed up — “I don’t have a late flight, so I can wait as long as it takes for you people to quiet down.” Ouch! Had she graduated from the Joan Rivers Charm School? Nope, Sewanee. But on this occasion she had toned it down and worked the room, calling out to familiar faces at the front of the room to bid.
Pop Rocks
Soon the auction was over and guests started making their way to the after-party with Pop Rocks performing. Knowing that long gowns don’t rock quite as well as hot short skirts, Co-chairs Catherine and Jennifer did a quick change and be-bopped the night away with other guests in the pop-up nightclub between the DMA building and the St. Paul circular drive.
Days later, it was announced that a whopping $2.25M had been raised. When asked how much “the net” was, the representative responded, “The $2.25 million raised is the only amount we are approved to issue.”