Artsy Fundraising

Dallas' chic MTV Re:Define gala and art auction drops gavel on $1.6 million

A fresh, new location brought fresh, new energy to MTV Re:Define, Dallas' biggest and chicest art fundraiser of the year.

Held at the Statler Hotel downtown on March 29, the premiere Dallas exhibition and auction attracted more than 300 patrons. This year's fete was chaired by Merrill Lynch Dallas Vice President Sami Abboud, co-hosted by MTV Re:Define co-founders Joyce Goss and Kenny Goss, and honored celebrated British artist and longtime Re:Define supporter Marc Quinn.

Jonny Burt and Joe Kennedy, founders of the London-based Unit London, served as the 2019 art chairs.

A who's who of Dallasites and art patrons dressed in their finest "art chic" — including Nancy Rogers, Capera Ryan, Elizabeth Esteve, Jessica Nowitzki, Sarah Jago, Nickki St. George, William Dillon, Heidi Dillon, Chuck Steelman, Mark Deuber, and Cary Deuber — mixed and mingled at a cocktail reception that offered the first chance for close-up glimpses of the night's featured artworks (and plenty of selfies, too).

When Grand Ballroom doors opened, guests got a warm welcome from the night's emcee, Becca Dudley, multi-talented television presenter for MTV. Georgia Arnold, executive director of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, underscored for the audience how important the work of MTV Re:Define is. To date, it had raised more than $14 million for HIV prevention through MTV Staying Alive.

“The funds raised at MTV Re:Define 2019 will go to support the programs of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that young people globally are able to make informed choices about their own sexual and reproductive health," she said. "MTV Staying Alive is not only working toward an HIV-free world but is doing so by ensuring the conversation is driven by empathy, inclusion and humanity, rather than the stigma and prejudice that has been too much a part of the disease for far too long.”

Guests dined on a multicourse meal that included a delectable beef short rib and indulgent chocolate mousse for dessert. Then it was time to get down to business.

Legendary auctioneer Simon de Pury — fresh off the plane from Hong Kong — wielded his gavel for live art and luxury experiences auction. Thirty fabulous pieces and experiences were sold in three different rounds, and bidding was fierce, fast, and furious.

Among the highlights:

Tyrrell Winston's Can’t Ignore Me Now, 2019, made of used basketballs, which sold for $10,000.
Daniel Arsham's guitar piece Eroded Les Paul, 2019, sold for $24,000.
Anthony James' hypnotic 24” Cube, 2019, which entranced with stainless steel, glass, and LEDs, sold for $35,000.
A piece called All you need is love love love, 2008, donated by Tracey Emin, which was a personal art gift she received from noted artist Damien Hirst, sold for $37,000.
Quinn's oil on canvas painting titled History Painting (Chaos) Venezuela Opposition Protest (Caracas 3 May 2017) RWCBOY, 2019, sold for $160,000.
The showpiece of the night, Quinn's immense 3,086-pound, glass-beaded bronze sculpture measuring entitled The Archaeology of Social Networks (LPMG Algorithm Type R), 2019 sold for $450,000 (It has been on display outside of Neiman Marcus at Dallas' NorthPark Center).

In addition to the exquisite artwork, a chance to meet tennis great Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open brought in $12,000. And a fashion week experience with luxury womenswear fashion brand Burnett New York sold for $15,000. Burnett co-founder Sterling McDavid and her mother, Stacie McDavid, were in attendance, and gowns by the fashion house were modeled by Lacey Bollinger and Tiff Taylor.

The Goss-Michael Foundation also introduced its first MTV Re:Define Award, established to recognize excellence in contemporary art by a postgraduate fine arts student. Students in their final program year from the current top 25 fine arts programs across the globe submitted their work for consideration. The winner was Shohei Katayama, an MFA candidate at Carnegie Mellon University.

After the final gavel had dropped and remarks had ended, global superstar and award-winning British singer-songwriter Rita Ora took the stage in a stunning silver "angel wing" gown to entertain with a set of high-energy hits.

Then the after-party continued into the wee hours, hosted by Giorgio’s of Los Angeles, who presented a pop-up version of their celebrity-filled nightclub. Bryan Rabin and Adam Bravin, Giorgio’s creators, flew in international DJ Aeroplane, who played the hottest disco dance hits for late-night revelers.

Spotted in the crowd, supporting the cause and having a great time throughout the night, were patrons Guillaume Coutheillas, Jonny Burt, Michael Gonsalves, Rock Patel, Linda Patel, Mark Pechersky, Julie Pechersky, Sarah Haemisegger, Cody Nguyen, Cheryl Maas, Kristie Ramirez, Rebecca Henderson, Kerry Perez, Susan Salka, Cearan Henley, Carla Johnson, Allan Knight, Masha Shapiro, Sara Hignite, Shelby Wagner, Niven Morgan, Yaaqob Davis, Rey Gamino, Mary Aboujaoude, Krystal Sarna, Jessica Shepherd, and Marvin Jackson.

When the last pennies were counted, more than $1.6 million had been raised from the evening to benefit HIV prevention and education through MTV Staying Alive Foundation and for The Goss-Michael Foundation’s commitment to arts education and awareness through its curated programming.

Yaaqob Davis, Rey Gamino

Photo by WJNPHOTO

Yaaqob Davis, Rey Gamino

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Centerstage spotlight

Showstopping Dallas Theater Center gala raises the curtain on a new era

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Zeke Williams, Grace Cook, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart

On a picture-perfect Saturday night, more than 250 of Dallas’ most devoted arts patrons gathered at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre for CENTERSTAGE 42, the annual gala benefiting Dallas Theater Center. The elegant evening on May 2 proved to be both a celebration of Dallas theater’s past and a curtain-raising for its future.

As the sun began to set across the Diane and Hal Brierley Esplanade in the Dallas Arts District, guests descended the outdoor staircase for an al fresco cocktail reception. One popular stop was just inside the doors of the lobby: A "Ziya" digital photo booth from local company Make Life Sweeter that turned patrons' posed photos into stylized watercolor portraits.

Throughout the venue, installations highlighting Dallas Theater Center’s Public Works initiative reminded attendees that the organization’s impact stretches from the stage to the neighborhoods of North Texas.

A multicourse dinner was served on the stage inside the Potter Rose Performance Hall, making attendees feel like the stars of the show in the intimate, theatrical atmosphere.

One of the night’s most meaningful moments came with the presentation of the prestigious Linda and Bill Custard Award to Larry Angelilli, recognized for more than three decades of leadership and advocacy that helped shape Dallas’ cultural landscape. The gala also paused to honor the memories of two beloved arts patrons, Linda Custard and Sarah Warnecke, both longtime champions of Dallas Theater Center and the broader arts community.

Inspired by their example, guests bid high for fabulous live auction items, including trips to Palm Springs and Hawaii and a private dinner with actor Michael Urie at a home on White Rock Lake. A paddle raise followed, with patrons giving generously all around the room.

Every $100 counted - from upstage, downstage, and closer to the wings - as the sold-out fundraiser's earnings totaled an impressive $545,000 in support of the Tony Award-winning theater company and its education and community engagement programs, including Project Discovery, Summer Stage, Saturday Sessions, and Community Workshops.

It wouldn't have been a theater benefit without a showstopping performer. When scheduled headliner Michael Urie was called away for filming commitments tied to Shrinking, Dallas Theater Center called on homegrown talent — and the result brought the crowd to its feet. Broadway performer Tiffany Mann, a DFW native with credits including Be More Chill and Waitress, delivered a powerhouse performance - and a few sparkly outfit changes.

The entire program was emceed by Bri Woods and Akron Watson, both fresh off Dallas Theater Center’s acclaimed production of Ragtime. Woods, an SMU Meadows graduate and Linda and Bill Custard Meadows Actor in the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company, represented the next generation of Dallas theater talent, while Tony-, Grammy-, and Emmy-winning Watson brought Broadway pedigree and star power to the gala stage.

This year’s gala leadership reflected the milestone spirit of the evening. Rather than appointing a single chair, Dallas Theater Center reunited gala chairs from the past decade to lead CENTERSTAGE 42 collectively. Leadership included Jennifer and Peter Altabef, Mickie and Jeff Bragalone, Stephanie Byrd, Scott Davis, Melinda Johnson, Brett Levy, Michelle Lockhart, Ann Mahowald, Deborah McMurray, Scott Moore, Scott Orr, Andy Smith, Paul Von Wupperfeld, Hamilton Sneed, and Krista Farber Weinstein.

The evening also marked an exciting turning point for Dallas Theater Center as it prepares to enter a new era under incoming Enloe/Rose Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda, a TCU grad who is making his return to DFW. The affable leader introduced himself to the audience with a few fun personal anecdotes (including one involving an Easter bunny suit) and expressed his enthusiasm for the vision and direction of DTC.

Cheers went up as Castañeda made a surprise announcement: That The Lehman Trilogy would be the final show in DTC's 2026-27 season.

Upon retrieving their cars from valet, guests departed with an ingenious gift on their front seat: A thank-you note and invitation for two tickets to the DTC's next production, the world premiere of Jonathan Norton's play Malcolm X and Redd Foxx Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem -on stage now through June 7. "We look forward to welcoming you back to the theater!" read the note.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the evening, were DTC patrons and supporters including Zeke Williams, Grace Cook, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart, Ann Mahowald, Michelle Lockhart, Hamilton A Sneed, Krista Farber Weinstein, Caroline Hamilton, Brandi Willis, Paul von Wupperfeld, Andy Smith, Mickie Bragalone, Jeff Bragalone, Deborah McMurray, Glen Davison, Cynthia Smoot, Jeff Netzer, Jeremy Lock, D'Andra Simmons Lock, Lynn Richardson, Elvenn Richardson, Michelle Lockhart, Krista Weinstein, Paul von Wupperfeld, Sarah Jackson, Andy Smith, and many more. (Scroll through the photos, above, to see highlights of the night.)

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Zeke Williams, Grace Cook, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart

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