The Dallas Museum of Art ushered in the U.S. premiere of “Jackson Pollock: Blind Spots” with panache, at an opening-night gala that included decor inspired by Pollock’s workspace and a first glimpse at many works that have not been viewed in more than 50 years.
For this momentous occasion, host Marguerite Hoffman welcomed nearly 200 A-list guests, including Jason McCoy (Pollock's nephew) and his daughter Samantha, Richard Holt, Andy Smith, Charles C. Bergman, Samuel Sachs II, Kerrie Buitrago, Sung An, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Joan and Brian Washburn, Gayle and Paul Stoffel, Heidi Zuckerman, Kelli and Allen Questrom, Catherine Rose, and Tom Lentz.
DMA senior curator of contemporary art Gavin Delahunty, the organizing curator for the exhibition, also was in the galleries to share highlights of this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, which he worked for four years to bring to life.
The seated dinner that preceded the viewing was an homage to Pollock’s studio. Hand-built tables made out of raw, unstained wood with cedar posts lined the space, with Edison bulbs strung between the posts. Table decor by floral designer Haile Woosen featured dracaena, crab apples on industrial perforated trays, coiled flat rattan pieces, and kale in half-gallon paint cans.
Walter Elcock, interim director of the Dallas Museum of Art, acknowledged exhibition sponsors before attendees dove into dinner, which concluded with Pollock’s own award-winning apple pie for dessert.
Meanwhile in the museum’s atrium, DMA members were arriving for their own celebration and sneak peek of the exhibition. Wearing “black is the new black” attire, more than 1,000 scenesters enjoyed cocktails and sweet and savory bites while listening to the Mad Men Swing Band.
“Jackson Pollock: Blind Spots” is co-organized by the Dallas Museum of Art and Tate Liverpool and includes more than 70 of Pollock’s works. The exhibition continues through March 20, 2016.
Pamela O’Gorman, Will O’Gorman, Jordan Kilkenny, Allison O’Gorman
