It would be a bit much to ask a florist or other decorating pro to come up with a different, and amazingly creative, centerpiece for every table at a sit-down dinner for 340.
Especially one like EPIC Gala.
by artist/philanthropist Laura Merage, and is perhaps best described as a mixed-use arts space, with “mixed-use” being key. It’s at 2350 Arapahoe St. in Denver’s Curtis Park neighborhood, and is a spot where established artists can exhibit their work and emerging artists of every age, interest and talent level are encouraged to develop their skills. Events are held there, artists have studio space there and classes are taught there.
So when it came time to decide on the gala’s décor, chairmen Irit Waldbaum and Bradley Joseph turned to RedLine artists to “curate” the tables where guests would be seated for a dinner of Pacific salmon poached in chardonnay from .
Some used lights; others incorporated foliage, fabric and found objects. In other words, it was a happy mish-mash that brought added energy to a room filled with creative and enthusiastic people.
In addition to raising money — $170,000 gross — the event also was the occasion to salute Merage for her vision in creating RedLine and to present the first Laura Merage Transforming Communities Award to Harry and Vicki Sterling. A retired attorney, Harry Sterling is on the boards of , and the . Vicki was the first executive director of and was assistant director of the from 1995 to 2011. She was a founding board member of RedLine and continues as a member of its advisory board.
Guests included Denver’s first lady, Mary Louise Lee; Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks; Tish Maes, a member of the ; graphic artist Ellen Bruss, who designed the gala’s invitation, with husband Mark Falcone, founder/CEO of ; Museum of Contemporary Art founder Sue Cannon; Joyce and attorney Gary Lozow; developers Peter Kudla and David French; Susan and Jeremy Shamos; Ann and Hal Logan; Celeste and Jack Grynberg; Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, a vice president with Kaiser Permanente and chair of the board; Cortney Stell, executive director of RedLine International; Julie Rubsam, chair of the RedLine board of directors; Louise Martorano, RedLine Denver’s executive director; Library Commissioner Judy Joseph; Visit Denver’s Jayne Buck; Patricia Barela Rivera; Peggy Beck; and Joanne and Ron Katz. Joanne Katz is a member of the and her husband is on the board of .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
Online: More pictures from this event denverpost.com/seengallery
A profitable day of golf
The seventh Jack Vickers Invitational Golf Tournament, hosted by John Elway, raises $1 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. Joanne Davidson has details in the Mile High Style blog blogs. denverpost.com/style
