Hand-painted, 20-foot flowers hung over ArtEdge's dinner reception. Throughout the night, the flowers opened and closed in what HMR event designer Jason Williquette described as “a moment of whimsy.” HMR designed the flowers, and Frost Chicago installed them.Photo: Jeremy Lawson Photography
“Our goal with every ArtEdge is to create an unforgettable evening of art and music, with each year bringing a new component,” says Hillary Hanas, director of fundraising events. “This year’s ArtEdge was a change from 2022 in format.”
Instead of sitting down for dinner, galagoers wandered through stations stocked with lobster rolls, fried green tomatoes, and more. “We were nervous about guests’ response to a reception-style event that did not include a seated dinner,” Hanas says. “Overall, the response was very positive, and the grab-and-go individual items were a hit.”
Before dinner, the evening kicked off with a tented cocktail reception on the terrace. Staffers from Culinaire circulated with appetizers such as mini grilled cheese sandwiches and bite-size BLTs. In keeping with the overall ArtEdge theme, the cocktail hour also served art and music.
As guests mingled over specialty drinks from three open bars, multidisciplinary artist Irene Hsiao performed "Blue Alice." The piece saw her dancing close to the ground in a rustling silver and blue dress. (Later, the artist playfully pulled flowers from centerpieces on dinner tables.) The LowDown Brass Band also performed over cocktails and throughout the evening.
Although the cocktail hour had a black and white look, the dinner reception featured markedly brighter decor. According to Jason Williquette, event designer at HMR Designs, “overstated summer” was the theme.
For the cocktail reception, HMR created a custom tent wrap decked in an oversize floral print. The bars and cocktail tables were also wrapped in the black and white design. “As guests walked into the main reception at the museum, we took that same print but transformed it into a maximalist trippy color explosion covering the entire floor,” Williquette says.
Decor within the museum also included a series of hand-painted, 20-foot flowers hanging from the top of the atrium. “At first the flowers were fully open,” Williquette says. “Once guests had some time in the space to enjoy the food and music, they began to open and close in a moment of surprise and whimsy.”
Naturally, wrapping a museum in a “trippy color explosion” presented some logistical hurdles. “Museums are open to the public daily, and the ‘overstated summer’ inspiration and flower installation demanded an overnight installation,” Hanas says. “We are so grateful to our partners from Frost Chicago and HMR Designs that endured overnight installations to avoid disruption for public hours.” (On Saturdays, the museum is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The gala started at 6:30 p.m.)
During the dinner reception, guests took in more music and art. The Illustrious Blacks, a New York-based DJ duo, performed in the second-floor lobby. On the fourth floor, DJ Duane Powell spun as guests explored the MCA’s latest exhibit, "Gary Simmons: Public Enemy."
By the time dinner wrapped at 9:30 p.m., the cocktail tent had turned into an after-hours concert venue. A Chaka Khan show, produced by Frost Chicago, was the main attraction. But there were also some sweet diversions—late-night snacks included cotton candy, funnel cakes, and popsicles. Ultimately, the night drew 410 guests and raised close to $1.7 million.
Keep scrolling to see key vendors and more from inside ArtEdge 2023...
VENDORS
Audiovisual Production & Lighting: Frost Chicago
Catering: Culinaire
Cotton Candy: Spin-Spun
Entertainment: The Illustrious Blacks, The LowDown Brass Band, DJ Duane Powell, Irene Hsiao, Chaka Khan
Event Design & Decor: HMR Designs
Flower Installation in Lobby: Frost Chicago
Photography: Jeremy Lawson Photography
Tenting: ProEm
Valet: VIP Valet
