How appropriate: The culmination of the fifth annual A Very Wolfsonian Weekend took place under the light of a full, silvery moon (and the first visible lunar eclipse in three years) in the courtyard of the Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. building on March 3. The gala evening fund-raiser—which helped raise about $500,000 for The Wolfsonian-Florida International University, the Miami Beach-based museum of design and decorative art—included cocktails, dinner, and dancing.Revelers were decked out in black-tie or silver fashions, in keeping with the theme of the current museum exhibition, "Modernism in American Silver: 20th Century Design." Dresses and decor sparkled especially brightly in the moonlight. That decor was courtesy of Karla Conceptual Event Experiences, and it also played off of the silver subtext. For instance, the decorations and centerpieces were meant to accent not only the silver background but also the distinctive Bacardi building itself, one of Miami's best examples of Latin modernism. To enter the clear, up-lit tent from EventStar, which highlighted the original Bacardi building and the second light-box building on either side of it, guests traveled through a mirrored portal punctuated with the flora of pink king proteas. The idea was to set it all off with "very different materials, including natural driftwood barks that have been sandblasted and bleached for sculptural effect, and using the oversize and exotic king protea blooms for their sculptural look and color," said Jose Zaldivar of Karla Conceptual.
The interior of the tent shimmered in silvery elegance, featuring two Georg Baldele-designed, peridot-hued "Glitterbox" chandeliers provided by Swarovski Crystal Palace. The centerpieces and tree-bark vases all differed from table to table, which with the chairs were draped in coordinating silver fabric. And in another nod to high design—at least when it comes to innovative furniture design—four X-shaped tables framed the dance floor. As the moon slipped through the earth's shadow, guests sat down to a full-course meal catered by Le Basque Catering & Productions. Served first, on white, rectangular plates was a grilled balsamic-marinated Anjou pear salad, with Treviso radicchio and Belgian endives, serrano crisps, blue Cabrales cheese, and pear balsamic vinaigrette. Next up, a choice of veal tenderloin with vanilla and Madeira reduction, with rutabaga and Yukon gold puree; or herb-crusted eggplant Parmesan, with rutabaga and Yukon gold puree. To finish the meal—and encourage mingling—a decadent dessert buffet was offered.
Naturally, before, during, and after the actual dinner, guests enjoyed top-shelf spirits and wine, provided by sponsors Bacardi U.S.A. and Robert Mondavi Winery. With the moon full in the middle of the sky, attendees stayed in the tent to shimmy to the beats by Sean Cohen during the after-party, or rested outside on lounge furniture provided by Design Within Reach. Helping museum founder Mitchell Wolfson, Jr. and director Cathy Leff host this annual event were additional sponsors including Continental Airlines, Dacra, and The O Property Collection.
—Anne Tschida
Guests entered the tent through a mirrored portal decorated with pink king proteas, which was inspired by the contrasting themes of man-made versus organic materials.
The gala's decor was based on a "shimmer and shine" theme, which meant tables and chairs were covered in coordinating silver fabric. Centerpieces of Columbian driftwood and king proteas were both organic and sculptural.
The event took place in the courtyard of the Bacardi U.S.A. headquarters, whose original building is an iconic example of Latin modernism.
A variety of floral displays were used, including white roses arranged in driftwood vases.
The Bacardi lightbox building contributed to the ambience, as seen through the clear tent from EventStar.
