The Museum of Contemporary Art's ArtEdge Gala

On May 15th, 500 of the city’s chicest philanthropists including Desirée Rogers, Penny Pritzker and Sara Albrecht were drawn to the Museum of Contemporary Art’s annual gala, arriving to a playful park setting of swing sets and teeter-totters. Guests sipped on refreshing spiked lemonade, while many brought out their inner child and blew bubbles, played hopscotch and took fun photos in the photo booth. After the cocktail reception, dinner was served downstairs juxtaposing classic comfort food with elegant décor of long, white tables and a plethora of white candles. Guests started off with Collins domestic caviar from Michigan City, Indiana, smoked salmon and toasted brioche with a shot of Crystal Head Vodka, followed by hamburgers and French fries. After dinner, guests headed back upstairs to a transformed space with a rock concert vibe. Crumpled up beer cans covered the sod that once featured flowers and mushrooms from the lighter cocktail reception, skull candles, rock posters covered the walls and projections of rock music videos were displayed in the new space where Camp Freddy performed an intimate concert. Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction, Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses and Donovan Leitch (son of folk singer Donovan), Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and Brandon Boyd of Incubus performed favorites like “Highway to Hell” and “Paradise City”. Before heading home, guests enjoyed a dessert reception of cotton candy, rice krispy treats and root beer floats. Kim Merlin, a well-know Hollywood set director for movies Stranger Than Fiction, Public Enemies and Greenburg, designed the décor for the evening. The event made over $715,000 for the MCA.

* Photos from left to right: Sharon Graboys, Karina Martinez-Carter and Adryana Dillon, Camp Freddy concert. Photos by Braxton Black.