Rather than hosting an event with just hors d'oeuvres and entertainment to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America, Fab C. Productions and the City of Miami Fire Department created a more interactive setting for their debut fund-raiser, "An Artist Tribute." The August 27 event, held at Miami's Grand Central contemporary event space, brought together eight local artists and their art and photography work dedicated to lupus survivors. More than 100 guests purchased tickets online and at the door to view a large selection of paintings and photos.
Photos of lupus survivors in various poses sat on easels displayed throughout the venue, creating a museumlike atmosphere. The most anticipated showcase, from artist Romero Britto, showed work reflecting a modern pop theme and also kept the disease's survivors in the spotlight.
Fashion was also a theme at the fund-raiser, with models walking a runway in front of the DJ, wearing items from a new collection from Nicole Miller's Miami Beach store. Uniformed firefighters escorted models battling the disease down the runway. Organizers also created vignettes set around the venue to display dresses and other looks from designer JHouse.
Between stories told onstage by lupus survivors and the Nicole Miller fashion show, African drummer Gregory Amin Norslee and inspirational singer Elizabeth Elias, among others, performed. Chef Quenia Jean-Charles of MixStyles Catering served Caribbean-inspired food like crab cakes with pineapple slaw and baked lobster pastries throughout the night, and lupus survivor Alexis Thomas of Chef Kathy's Catering & Events provided desserts.
"The event is so important to me, because so many people are suffering from this painful disease," said event coordinator Fabienne Claude. "It's a disease that so many people know right now, so it's really important for me to spread awareness and information about what lupus is." A percentage of the night's proceeds, vendor sales, and earnings from a raffle and silent auction went to the foundation.
