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.
