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  1. Venues & Destinations

Color Me Solid

The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale looked to works by Picasso and Carlos Luna for the color palette of its annual gala on Saturday.

Brittany Peitsmeyer
February 25, 2009

The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale hosted its annual fund-raiser on February 21 to celebrate the recent merger of the museum and Nova Southeastern University as well as the close of the joint pottery and paintings exhibit by Picasso and South Florida-based Carlos Luna.

Designed, coordinated, and executed for the second year by Donald Braun, now of Donald Braun Events LLC, the El Gran Mambo event-named for one of Luna's paintings-took inspiration from Picasso's and Luna's art.

The 350 guests gathered in the museum's outdoor plaza, perforated with gobos of Luna's paintings, for the cocktails and a pre-dinner live auction. Moving inside for dinner, the 350 guests were spread throughout five of the museum's second floor galleries-each featuring its own monochromatic decor scheme, reminiscent of the bold colors used by both artists.

"In four of the five galleries I stayed consistent with black linens and black Chiavari chairs, and used colored accents like seat cushions, napkins, and centerpieces," said Braun.

Adding an additional artistic element to each room, Braun painted a few chairs-in no specific pattern-to match the theme of the room in an effort to add a unique conversation piece to the space.

Channeling Luna's Cuban roots, A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team served a three-course dinner of Latin-inspired dishes like garlic and lime marinated filet of beef paired with yucca and black bean puree.

"While guests were eating upstairs our team changed the lighting palette to reflect cool blue tones-riffing on Picasso's blue phase," said Braun.

As guests descended from their respective art galleries-turned-dining vignettes, a rarity for a museum due to the sensitivity of the artwork, they entered the after-dinner lounge complete with music by the Steven Chase Orchestra.

Event designer Donald Braun used monochromatic decor schemes-inspired by Picasso and Carlos Luna's artwork-across the museums five galleries for its annual fund-raiser.
Event designer Donald Braun used monochromatic decor schemes-inspired by Picasso and Carlos Luna's artwork-across the museums five galleries for its annual fund-raiser.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
The green gallery featured organic centerpieces and rectangular dining tables.
The green gallery featured organic centerpieces and rectangular dining tables.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
After dinner guests retreated to the main level of the lobby for dancing, where stickers of Luna's works adhered to the bars and backlit.
After dinner guests retreated to the main level of the lobby for dancing, where stickers of Luna's works adhered to the bars and backlit.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
The yellow gallery featured rectangular tables topped with yellow floral centerpieces.
The yellow gallery featured rectangular tables topped with yellow floral centerpieces.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
Rounds of ten covered in crisp white linens filled the orange gallery.
Rounds of ten covered in crisp white linens filled the orange gallery.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
In the red room-as well as all the others-Braun painted two of the chairs to add unique element to the monochromatic space.
In the red room-as well as all the others-Braun painted two of the chairs to add unique element to the monochromatic space.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
Inside the purple gallery custom abstract centerpieces topped the tables.
Inside the purple gallery custom abstract centerpieces topped the tables.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
The stairs to the dining galleries featured gobos of Luna's paintings.
The stairs to the dining galleries featured gobos of Luna's paintings.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
Event designer Donald Braun used monochromatic decor schemes-inspired by Picasso and Carlos Luna's artwork-across the museums five galleries for its annual fund-raiser.
Event designer Donald Braun used monochromatic decor schemes-inspired by Picasso and Carlos Luna's artwork-across the museums five galleries for its annual fund-raiser.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
The museum's outdoor plaza hosted the cocktail hour and live auction before dinner.
The museum's outdoor plaza hosted the cocktail hour and live auction before dinner.
Matt Horton/Artist Group
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