Some fundraisers make their mark by featuring big-name entertainment. Others go with over-the-top food and décor.
, a benefit for the Denver Art Museum’s Department of Architecture, Design & Graphics, puts a variety of elements into play — and the result never ceases to amaze.
Like this year, when 10 very talented architects, artists and designers were enlisted to create five objects that reflected the CAST theme.
“The idea,” explains associate curator Darrin Alfred, “was to play off of the notion of seriality or an ensemble. Some artists physically cast components of their objects, such as Mathias Leppitsch of did with ‘Light: Obelus I’ and Scott Bennett of , who formed the seat and back of his one-of-a-kind chairs with a concrete composite.”
Others created a related series of objects, such as Boulder-based graphic designers Berger & Föhr and fine artist Pattie Lee Becker, whose soft sculptures titled “Lures” resembled brightly patterned, oversized fishing lures.
The items were sold over the course of the evening. The first to deplete his inventory was young potter Matthew Jorgensen, a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, whose five vessels were titled “Only the Silent Can Hear.” They were snapped up during Vernissage, the VIP preview that was held one hour before Design After Dark’s 7 p.m. start.
Megan Hudacky, founder of the interior architecture firm , and Craig Rouse, owner of , chaired CAST, which brought a sold-out crowd of 800 to the McNichols Civic Center Building on Jan. 31. Net proceeds stand at “$30,000 and counting,” Alfred says.
Food was from ; IN | EX created the dramatic florals; and provided the music. There were also specialty cocktails based on and .
The creative efforts were rewarded with awards determined by Thomas Smith, director of the DAM’s Petrie Institute of Western American Art, chef Jennifer Jasinski and Denver Post fine-arts critic Ray Mark Rinaldi.
“Super Fly” went to “Jarts,” by David Larabee and Dexter Thornton of . Pattie Lee Becker’s “Lures” won “Best Act,” and “Most Bewitching” was given to Taryn and Megan Slawson of , who described their creations as “a series of pods cast from the daily news.”
Guests included John Carlen, chief operating officer at ; newlyweds Jessica Hood and Matthew Doran; artist Nadaleena Mirat Brettmann; Baker neighborhood icons Michael Thornton and Donna Altieri; Laurence Spiewak, co-founder of Suerte Tequila; Kimberly MacArthur Graham, founding principal of ; Brooke and Patrick Allison; Bobbi Walker of ; Ashley and Chase Campbell; and Rachelle Folsom and Holly Bell of .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
Jim steinberg is 2014 citizen of the arts
Benefactor Jim Steinberg is honored for support to DCPA and other groups at dinner hosted by the Fine Arts Foundation. Joanne Davidson has details in the Mile High Style blog: blogs.denverpost.com/style
