Awesome Art Affair

The hottest young philanthropists in Dallas go Gatsby glam for Affair of the Art

A fire-breathing entertainer greeted more than 500 posh arts patrons at the 20th annual Affair of the Art. Held at the sculpture garden at the Dallas Museum of Art, it was sure to be a hot evening of fun and philanthropy with the theme "Great Gatsby meets New York World's Fair."

In keeping with the theme, ladies donned beaded cocktail dresses and feathered headbands, while gents sported white dinner jackets, bow ties and bowlers. Gorgeous guests — including Kiki and Andy Wallace, Lisa and Wayne Moore, Kari and Troy Kloewer, Capera Ryan, Abigail Baber, Linda McDonough, Molly Ridgway, Hilary Colling, and Jared Hutchins — sipped on “Cat’s Meow” drinks by Azar Distilling Cinco Vodka and Firefly Moonshine cocktails created by Sissy’s Southern Kitchen's Chase Streitz, served appropriately in mason jars.

The raffle booth was the place to be as attendees bought chances for 15 fabulous prizes, including shopping sprees, dream trips for two, handbags, sports tickets, and more. For those wanting a sure bet, 50 dollars purchased a “mystery box” from Kendra Scott filled with a piece of her signature jewelry.

Affair of the Art co-chairs Susannah and Seth Bame spared no expense for this magical affair. We are talking monkeys in bow ties and penguins in tuxedos, who interacted with the crowd while cover band Signed Sealed Delivered provided the tunes. There was no monkeying around, however, when it came to fundraising. Seth announced that approximately $145,000 had been raised for the DMA and its teen educational programs.

Since its inception in 2003, Affair of the Art has raised more than $2 million for the Dallas Museum of Art. Proceeds support nationally touring exhibitions and acquisitions of works for the DMA’s collection.

Jared Hutchins, Tierney Kaufman

Photo by Kristina Bowman

Jared Hutchins, Tierney Kaufman

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Hot to trot

Equest Dallas patrons pony up record $700K at blue ribbon-worthy ball

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Honorary co-chairs David and Natalie Taylor, Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand, and Gala co-chairs Kristin and James Hallam

A sold-out crowd of 570 supporters stampeded into Gilley’s Dallas on April 25 for the 44th Annual Equest Blue Ribbon Gala. The Western-chic affair, always one of the most highly anticipated galas of spring, would have a record-breaking night.

Co-chairsKristin and James Hallam and honorary chairs The Sam and Helga Feldman Foundation and Natalie and David Taylor welcomed patrons decked out in cowboy boots and hats to Gilley's, which had been transformed into a shimmering celebration of all things Equest by event designer Steve Kemble. A “disco saddle” centerpiece even hung from the ceiling.

Emcee Calvert Collins-Bratton welcomed the crowed with a hearty "yee haw!" Equest founder Susan Schwartz presented the Founders Award to Carol Chamberlin, whose three decades of service as volunteer, donor, and barn manager have made her an Equest organization legend. The Citation Award went to Donna and Tim Weber and their daughter Katherine, an Equest client.

New CEO Eric Lindh took the stage to underscore Equest’s mission to provide equine-assisted learning, therapies, and counseling (much of it free of charge) to children, adults, and veterans. He shared the nonprofit's bold vision for the future, focusing on the number “22,” a call to action inspired by the 22 percent of Dallas County residents living with a disability, the 22 veterans lost to suicide daily in the U.S., and the 22 percent of Americans living with mental illness, while less than half of those receive treatment.

His pledge to expand services to first responders struck a chord with the crowd, as did the moving testimonials from Equest clients.

Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand urged the crowd to “Bid boldly. Bid big. Bid with heart,” and patrons did that in spades. Auctioneer Louis Murad encouraged bidders to raise paddles stridently, starting from initial $10,000 bids onward. Bidding got fast and furious live auction packages that included fabulous trips (with destinations such as France, Antigua, and Montana) and more. The most memorable moment came when a guest insisted Murad - ever the showman - auction off his own sparkling jacket. It fetched $2,000, a purchase by Tim Weber (who clearly loves a good statement piece).

In total, the gala raised $700,000, the largest fundraising amount in Equest’s 44-year history. The Blue Ribbon Ball's proceeds go directly to equine-assisted therapies and other services provided by Equest; for more information, visit the organization's website.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Honorary co-chairs David and Natalie Taylor, Auction chair Norma Jean Schaltenbrand, and Gala co-chairs Kristin and James Hallam

After a night of sipping, dining, and fundraising, patrons tried their luck at casino games and danced the night away to Jordan Kahn’s Manhattan Orchestra.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the evening, were Donna Weitzman, Nancy Greenbach, Natalie Taylor, Therese Rourk, Anne Seanor, Courtney Conley, Maggie Spiegel, Tyler Bridges, Lea LaFortune, Lee and Paul Michaels, Ryan and Kelly Casey, Christina Eubanks, Megan Pharis, Julie Bagley, Laura Johnson, Parker and Katy Brooks, Sharon Lee Clark, Max Clark, Jordan Glasgow, Anna Gresham, Khaki Christopher, Jessie Dornak, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Sarah and Trey Pederson, Luis Araujo, Amy Green, Kayten Elder, Sila Grogan, Melissa Placet, Tayler Reiter, Danny and Tanya Rice, Tina and Michael Beasom, and hundreds more patrons and supporters.