Looking to attract potential new—and younger—donors, the Smithsonian American Art Museum opened its doors for the third incarnation of "Artrageous" benefit on Thursday, at the museum’s brand spanking new Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. Designed by Foster + Partner, the 28,000-square-foot venue has been critically hailed as an architectural gem, and Smithsonian special events manager Emily Chamberlin was eager to get into the space.
“We’ve been growing Artrageous each year, knowing that we would eventually be able to move into the courtyard,” she said. Some 500 guests attended the event, up 20 percent from 2006.Chamberlin created four distinct areas for the event, each representing a region of the United States and a piece by an artist with work housed in the museum’s permanent gallery. The South area of the room, for example, represented David Bates’s "Baits" painting, complete with fried chicken, pulled pork, and grits by Design Cuisine. The centerpieces in each area also reflected the paintings—the South’s was a dock, mimicking the one featured in "Baits." Other regions, artists, and artwork honored included the Northeast and Edward Hopper’s "Ryder’s House," the West and Albert Bierstadt’s "Among the Sierra Nevada, California," and an all-American theme (offering no less than a dozen desserts) that highlighted Nam June Palik’s video installation "Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii."
“Artrageous is just one facet of a museum-wide initiative to go in a more contemporary direction,” said Smithsonian development officer Elaine Webster. “One of the things we’re really focusing on is having a place where younger folks can come, and this is one night where we open our doors to the broader community. The key thing for us, though, is to get newcomers into the museum, and to keep them coming back.”
The invitation encouraged “artrageous attire and dancerageous shoes,” so it was no surprise that music was also a focus of the evening, with a jazz performance by Blues Alley Jazz's Jacques Johnson and some big-band hits from Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
“We’ve been growing Artrageous each year, knowing that we would eventually be able to move into the courtyard,” she said. Some 500 guests attended the event, up 20 percent from 2006.Chamberlin created four distinct areas for the event, each representing a region of the United States and a piece by an artist with work housed in the museum’s permanent gallery. The South area of the room, for example, represented David Bates’s "Baits" painting, complete with fried chicken, pulled pork, and grits by Design Cuisine. The centerpieces in each area also reflected the paintings—the South’s was a dock, mimicking the one featured in "Baits." Other regions, artists, and artwork honored included the Northeast and Edward Hopper’s "Ryder’s House," the West and Albert Bierstadt’s "Among the Sierra Nevada, California," and an all-American theme (offering no less than a dozen desserts) that highlighted Nam June Palik’s video installation "Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii."
“Artrageous is just one facet of a museum-wide initiative to go in a more contemporary direction,” said Smithsonian development officer Elaine Webster. “One of the things we’re really focusing on is having a place where younger folks can come, and this is one night where we open our doors to the broader community. The key thing for us, though, is to get newcomers into the museum, and to keep them coming back.”
The invitation encouraged “artrageous attire and dancerageous shoes,” so it was no surprise that music was also a focus of the evening, with a jazz performance by Blues Alley Jazz's Jacques Johnson and some big-band hits from Big Ray and the Kool Kats.
The Artrageous benefit at the Kogod Courtyard.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
The Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard opened in November and connects the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Atmosphere Lighting highlighted the space's soaring ceilings and undulating glass roof with a color palette that rotated from peach and pink hues to green and blue.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
The West-themed area of the event represented Albert Bierstadt's "Among the Sierra Nevada, California," painting. The menu included Napa Valley burgers, sushi and dim sum, beef fajitas, Tex Mex tortas, and Siam noodle salad.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Design Cuisine's dessert selections included individual caramelized pumpkin trifles with whipped cream, candied ginger, and mint.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Another dessert option: pistachio mousse cordials with a striped chocolate straw.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Jacques "Saxman" Johnson of Blues Alley Jazz performed early in the evening.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Big Ray and the Kool Kats played Motown and pop hits.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
