1st Annual Gilded Gala for the SB Museum of Art

In what will turn out to be setting the bar for galas in our town, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s 1^st Annual Gilded Gala Fundraiser was held on Friday, February 28 at none other than the Rosewood Miramar Beach. The gala’s mission is to raise funds for the SBMA’s “…dawn of a new era, to support its vital education and engagement programs, for the care, study, and exhibition of its collections, and to bring art into the lives of all people.”

From A-Listed locals to Beverly Hills supporters of the museum and their friends, guests attended in their finest silk crepe de Chine and satin designer gowns and Manolo Blahnik heels. Men were more than equally fashion forward in tailored tuxedos with gold lamé threading by Ralph Lauren Purple Label and Hugo Boss. The most artful yet subtle use of the gilded theme was worn by SBMA Board Chair Michael C. Linn, who shared with me after I took his photograph, “Joanne, look at my tux buttons and cuffs, they are gold and black bumble bees!” – indeed! Also seen at the event were L.A. artist Elliott Hundley, SBMA curators James Glisson, Charlie Wylie, and Susan Tai, the SBMA Board of Trustees, and staff.

The event commenced with a full-on reception held across the Chandelier Ballroom and outdoor lawn. It featured a unique, one-off “Buy It Now” option from the usual silent auction table. Items for sale included a Private Client experience at the House of Chanel NYC; a Baccarat Eye Vase from Coast 2 Coast; a fine carved silver, 22K gold and turquoise ring designed by Daniel Gibbings Jewelry Montecito; a half a case of Blagden’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon limited edition from the Liquor & Wine Grotto Coast Village Road; a Wendy Foster pearl necklace; a Loro Piana Rosewood Miramar Bale Bag; and a Maison K Montecito Etruscan Revival charm bracelet and matching necklace. 

At the formal dinner, Linn provided the welcome and introduced SBMA Eichholz Foundation Director Amada Cruz. Talking points from her address were, “A bit over a year ago, I was truly honored to become the first Latina and the second woman to lead the Museum. It has been such a joy to get to know so many of you and this very welcoming community. It’s been an eventful year at the Museum, and I’d love to share only some of our proudest achievements that you helped support. We are reinterpreting our 25,000+ art collection to emphasize its global and, by definition, diverse nature. This is happening under the leadership of James Glisson, our new Chief Curator, along with our other talented curators Charlie Wylie and Susan Tai. They are mixing things up in the galleries, presenting exhibitions and collection displays that are inclusive, surprising, scholarly, and even… fun. The response has been enthusiastically positive. Our education programs are extraordinary, and we are increasing our commitment to them. Under the heartfelt leadership of Patsy Hicks, we strive to reach all communities, making everyone feel welcome, all in collaboration with our many local partners and with the local school system. To increase accessibility, we are now open free of charge to tri-county locals on every second Sunday, and attendance on those days has doubled. Your support of the Museum helps to create inspiring experiences that nurture creativity, foster critical thinking, and encourage a lifetime of appreciation for the arts. Those moments also develop empathy in a wonderful celebration of our shared humanity in all its beautiful multiplicity of difference. We cannot do this alone; we need your engagement, enthusiasm, and funding.”

Licensed Auctioneer Courtney Booth Christensen, Senior Director of Trusts & Estates at Winston Art Group and formerly a VP at Sotheby’s NY-London, warmed up the guests with a surprise auction item. The winning bid would have the privilege of naming the SBMA’s renowned monumental statue of Hermes for one month. The Hermes statue is located in the SBMA Wright S. Ludington Court (front lobby). There were of course live auction items and the Paddle Raise. Gilded Gala Co-Chair Lynn Cunningham Brown shared with me post-event, “We are delighted to say that the incredible generosity of our supporters netted more than $800,000 to allow the Santa Barbara Museum of Art to continue bringing art into the lives of people.”

The Event Committee was led by Co-ChairsLynn Cunningham Brownand Carol Linn, with their team Jacquelyn Klein-Brown, Christian McGrath, Martha Townsend, Beth Wood, and Jennifer Zacharias

The Sponsorship Committee were Sarah Argyropoulos, Christine Emmons, Robert Giaimo, Laura Macker Johnston, Angie McGrath, Maria Rendón, Clay Tedeschi, and Isabel Wendt.

The Gilded Sponsor was Judith Little. Top Sponsors were Susan Drymalski Bowey, Rachael Douglas & Assoc. and Ann Cooluris, Connie and John Pearcy, Mitchell and Lisa Green, Karen Lantz and Andy Farkas, the Luria-Budgor Family Foundation, Christian and Angie McGrath, Siri and Bob Marshall, Rachel Kaganoff, Stephen Schaible and Daron Builta, Clay Tedeschi, Beth and George Wood, Lisa and David Wolf, and Geof and Laura Wyatt.

Event planner Merryl Brown’s touch was not lost on the guests. There were female actors in 1920 designer gold and black gowns with gold star headpieces and suited men with top hats on double-head high stilts, two dance troop performances on the ebony and gold framed dance floor, and themed table settings. The event concluded with dancing to the band Cardinal Gold till 11pm.

411: www.sbma.net