Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation to support arts and educational programs for the urban youth in Palm Beach County. They once again hired Sutka Productions International to design the second annual fund-raiser, the Art for Life Palm Beach gala. The company created live art vignettes at Donald Trump's luxurious Mar-a-Lago estate. The star-studded crowd—which included The Donald and wife Melania, Venus Williams, Sammy Sosa, Star Jones Reynolds, plus honorees Antonio "LA" Reid (chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group), and songwriter Denise Rich—did not just visualize the beauty of the art but were able to touch it and feel it as well.
"The decor exemplified the spirit, vision, and creativity of the youth who benefit from the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation," said Bruce Sutka. "We believe the arts save lives and, as artists ourselves, we are honored to be part of an event that creates an outlet for kids."
Guests entered the cocktail reception area, located between the pool and grand ballroom, not on the traditional red carpet but a blue one instead. They were greeted by gigantic carnival characters on stilts. Set up in vignettes throughout the area were young artists from Palm Beach County schools drawing models in hot pink mermaid costumes, and an artist airbrushing a model with a myriad of colors. Furniture in multiple shades of blue accented by deep shades of pink speckled the private courtyard where guests nibbled on hors d'oeuvres and sipped champagne and cocktails while bidding on art sculptures created by Palm Beach's young artists at a silent auction.
Using a variety of colored lights and lighting techniques, Hy-Lite Productions turned the main ballroom into the equivalent of a drawing full of vibrant colors. Vertical shelving units attached to floor-to-ceiling pink sheer curtains housed thousands of battery-operated candles that provided a magical glowing effect. Tables were dressed with light blue linens and shimmering overlays and topped with young artists' sculptures as centerpieces. Each table showcased a different piece that was auctioned off during the evening. Showing off the youths' talent did not end with the centerpieces. The young artists, invisible to the attendees, stood behind silk panels and painted pictures on these panels; the results appeared in front of the audience's eyes as if produced in a darkroom.
Mar-a-Lago's catering staff prepared a multicourse feast consisting of goat cheese roulade with baby lettuce, grilled Yukon gold potatoes, roasted beets and grilled shrimp drizzled in beet oil dressing for starters; baked sea bass and roasted rack of lamb with caramelized root vegetables and a tomato-fig balsamic reduction as dual entrees; and a caramel apple dessert with cinnamon whipped cream and marinated berries.
—Veronica Mugnai-Hardy
Read our coverage of last year's Art for Life Palm Beach gala...
"The decor exemplified the spirit, vision, and creativity of the youth who benefit from the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation," said Bruce Sutka. "We believe the arts save lives and, as artists ourselves, we are honored to be part of an event that creates an outlet for kids."
Guests entered the cocktail reception area, located between the pool and grand ballroom, not on the traditional red carpet but a blue one instead. They were greeted by gigantic carnival characters on stilts. Set up in vignettes throughout the area were young artists from Palm Beach County schools drawing models in hot pink mermaid costumes, and an artist airbrushing a model with a myriad of colors. Furniture in multiple shades of blue accented by deep shades of pink speckled the private courtyard where guests nibbled on hors d'oeuvres and sipped champagne and cocktails while bidding on art sculptures created by Palm Beach's young artists at a silent auction.
Using a variety of colored lights and lighting techniques, Hy-Lite Productions turned the main ballroom into the equivalent of a drawing full of vibrant colors. Vertical shelving units attached to floor-to-ceiling pink sheer curtains housed thousands of battery-operated candles that provided a magical glowing effect. Tables were dressed with light blue linens and shimmering overlays and topped with young artists' sculptures as centerpieces. Each table showcased a different piece that was auctioned off during the evening. Showing off the youths' talent did not end with the centerpieces. The young artists, invisible to the attendees, stood behind silk panels and painted pictures on these panels; the results appeared in front of the audience's eyes as if produced in a darkroom.
Mar-a-Lago's catering staff prepared a multicourse feast consisting of goat cheese roulade with baby lettuce, grilled Yukon gold potatoes, roasted beets and grilled shrimp drizzled in beet oil dressing for starters; baked sea bass and roasted rack of lamb with caramelized root vegetables and a tomato-fig balsamic reduction as dual entrees; and a caramel apple dessert with cinnamon whipped cream and marinated berries.
—Veronica Mugnai-Hardy
Read our coverage of last year's Art for Life Palm Beach gala...
Sutka Productions created an inviting and colorful picture-perfect ballroom at the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation's Art For Life Palm Beach benefit.
During cocktails, guests watched as an airbrush artist worked on a model.
Guests bid on sculptures that doubled as centerpieces on each table.
Young artists from the foundation got inspiration from a hot pink mermaid.
