Some headlines tell the whole story, and let’s call that the case with Thursday night’s Luminocity fundraiser for the .
Things were going along normally — as normal as things go at this offbeat, annual event. The cauliflower brûlée had everyone asking “what’s this?” and the killer wines, supplied by LoHi’s liquors, were making “red or white?” feel like the most important choice of a lifetime.
The art auction went on with only a few odd moments: A print sold for three times its value at $17,000. And for some reason, museum trustee spent $4,000 on a painting that was lost in transit and unlikely to be found. “You may or may not get it,” auctioneer warned. Maybe it was generosity that got Kister in the spirit, or maybe it was his suit, a school-bus yellow number, dotted with pink and purple flowers.
There were just a few speeches and none of them too boring. Board chairman announced a few future exhibitions, one by Jean-Michel Basquiat, though he mostly pointed out the good work museum director Adam Lerner and his team do, working relentlessly with teens and exhibiting exciting art from around the globe.
“This is not just my favorite organization in Denver. I think it’s one of the most important,” said Fries, also the board chairman of Denver’s Biennial of the Americas, probably his second favorite organization.
Even the group shot of tequila — it’s mandatory at this event — went down without any memorable rowdiness on the unfinished fourth floor of the under-construction Triangle Building downtown.
But then came the final auction item of the night — and the strip down. It was a piece by , the artist and rock musician (He is Devo!) who exhibited at the MCA last year.
Mothersbaugh contributed a print depicting himself, his head covered in slime. Development director Michael McNeill appeared on stage to announce Lerner would actually get slimed before the crowd if the work sold. It did, for $10,000.
Lerner removed his bow tie, then his shirt, then his pants to reveal the skin-tight, leopard-print, muscleman suit he’d been wearing underneath. It wasn’t exactly a fashion-forward moment for the director, but not so bad either — no embarrassing bulges, anywhere. Of course, the green, gooey slime came pouring down, right over Lerner’s head and trademark eyeglasses, and things got a little messy.
That was the night. Except for some more drinking. Then a lot of dancing. The MCA’s gala is more fun than any other.
Ray Mark Rinaldi: 303-954-1540, rrinaldi@denverpost.com or @rayrinaldi
