Dusty Stemer, Toni Canada, Dustin O’Regan,
Saturday(10/12) evening, the founding members were honored, a lucky guest won a Buccelatti bracelet worth $20,000, a guest won husband of the year by bidding on a priceless NYC Fashion show experience, and the city’s well heeled dwellers danced the night away to the tunes of DJ Madrid; just another Saturday or was it?
The Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago hosted one of the most anticipated gala’s of the fall social season. ‘Nothing Is As It Appears’ was a masquerade themed gala that served as a commemorative celebration of the boards founding 40 years ago.
As guests entered the Art Institute for the cocktail reception to begin the evening, artists dressed in different forms of Rene Magritte’s well known paintings including ‘The Son of Man’ in bowler hats, black blazers and holding up apples, The Lovers with their faces cloaked in blue sheet, entertained as the crowd began to form at the grand staircase. DJ Madrid and Violinist extraordinare Katarina Visnevska performed throughout the evening.
The guest list which included gala co-chairs Roxy Goebel, Toni Canada, Matt Pettinelli, Stephen Somogyi; Wentworth & John McGovern, Abby Wood, Daisy Wood and their day Art Wood; Meredith Wood-Prince; Amanda Puck and Bill Rairigh, Randy and Kimberly Burt, Rebecca Besser, David and Andrea Thurm, Nicola and David Jackson, Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel, Roger and Eva Hill, Casey and Micaela Zgutowicz, Tom and Mary Villanova, Jon and Brigid Najarian, PJ and Archana Acosta and many many more. CLICK HERE FOR FULL GALLERY
Walking around, one couldn’t help but marvel at the different detailed masks from furry fox, major feathered regalia and many other variations.
Whitley Bouma Herbert, Guest, Carolina Jayaram
Following the reception, we were all ushered to be seated for dinner in Griffin Court of the Modern Wing. Dustin O’Regan current president of the Auxiliary Board, made a few remarks thanking guests in attendance for their support as well as the numeorus sponsors such as presenting sponsor Buccelatti, PriceWaterhouseCooper, Francis Coppola Wines, Invesco to name a few.
A video highlighting the beginning of the board where founding members such as Ellen Stirling explained why they wanted to establish what is now the oldest auxiliary board in the country. What started with an innovative idea on a placemat has grown to help continue to bring awareness and support the art institute. They wanted to persuade people of similar interests willing to work hard and had a passion for the Art Institute. During the construction of the Modern Wing, the Auxiliary Board made major contribution to its efforts. The Chegall windows that has been visited by many residents and visitors, holiday scavenger hunt, as well as former Chicago first Lady the late Maggie Daley, who was an earlier member were highlights of the video.
Maria Buccelatti, David Wildstein, Lucrezia Buccelatti Wildstein
Members of the Buccelatti family flew in for the event and draped in gorgeous diamonds and emeralds. Following dinner each guest was presented with a box and within each box was a card with numbers. A lucky guest won the Buccelatti bracelet. Following dinner, a choreographed number that included glowsticks ushered guests up to Terzo Piano for more fun with DJ Madrid spinning and everyone partaking in smilebooth’s themed pictures (those things really are fun).
Nicola Jackson, Corbin Horn, David Jackson
Guest,Lesley Prizant Goodman, Guest
Audarshia Townsend, Amanda Puck, Nicole Townsend
Toni Canada, Lance Lawson, Amanda Puck
