artEdge Celebrates Fine Art with Funk

As far as art events are concerned, The Museum of Contemporary Art's (MCA) artEdge winter gala comes to mind as the best of the best. On Saturday, February 4th, 600 guests got out of their winter funk by attending a spectacular night celebrating fine art. As guests walked through the tented Sculpture Garden, a sophisticated and funky reception greeted them. The space, decked out in all white, was the perfect backdrop to a funky evening with its oversized ceiling fixture that resembled a large cloud.

During the cocktail reception notable guests, like Penny Pritzker, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Walter Burnett and wife Darlena, sipped on cocktails and enjoyed passed appetizers by Chef Wolfgang Puck who made a very rare public appearance. We noshed on hush puppies with a piece of lobster and giardineira remoulade; fried chicken with peanut butter dust and truffle honey; and pierogi with potato, saurkaut, and apple creme fraiche. As if the tantalizing food wasn't enough, artist Nick Cave sent out his colorful Soundsuits who shimmied and danced their way throughout the reception.

Guests then headed to the museum's Kovler Atrium, where a seated dinner by none other than Wolfgang Puck took place. Guests sat down at the plastic-wrapped communal tables and were treated to a feast that started with a salad that included heirloom beets, wild rice popcorn, poached pear, blue cheese, pomegranate puddle, and citrus flower; an entree of roasted chicken paired with wild mushroom spoon bread pudding, caramelized yams, chestnuts and braised collard greens.

After dinner, the Soundsuits summoned guests to return to the tented Sculpture Garden to enjoy the band --George Clinton and Parliament Funkadellic. As guests grooved to the beats, they indulged in desserts of pineapple upside-down cake, push-up pies with assorted flavors, and Savannah Coca Cola chocolate cake.

Over $1 million was raised for the MCA and tickets were $1,000 per person.
-Melissa Maynard

*Phots by Bob Carl
Top photo: Lauren Gold and Sasha Adler, co-chairs Marc Brooks and Liza Brooks, Interior of tented Sculpture Garden

Collage: Heiji Choy Black and Brian Black, Paula Crown, Anne Kaplan, and Cari Sacks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chef Wolfgang Puck, Casey Benjamin and George Motz, Nicolas Bridon, Maya Polsky, and King Harris, MCA Curator Naomi Beckwith and MCA Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn, Putter Pence and Bruce Goers, Artist Nick Cave's Soundsuit performance