Charitable Conspiracy
Art Conspiracy fans wreck Deep Ellum for frenzied fundraising auction
Hundreds of Dallas art and music enthusiasts filled Life in Deep Ellum for Wrecked, the mid-year fundraising event for Art Conspiracy. Works from more than 40 artists were auctioned live to help fill the coffers of beneficiary Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico.
Bidding started at just $50 for art inspired by this year’s theme of deconstruction/reconstruction of ordinary objects. Fan favorites included Aralyn McGregor’s Sofa Queen, an oil on canvas portrait of ’60s icon Penelope Tree lounging on a sofa. But a piece by Hobbes Vincent raked in the highest bid of the night: $800.
As is tradition, music played an important role in the evening’s festivities, and three bands — Ronnie Hart, French 75 and Dark Rooms — provided entertainment. To keep up their energy, attendees — including Stephanie Quadri, Valda and John Macready, Laurel Rhodes, Joel Lapidus, Rebecca Lawsom, Kristen Martin, and Ashley Wilson and Jeff Miller of Music Is Our Weapon — fed their appetites with food truck fare from Samson’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, Say Kimchi and Vegan Noms.
Art Conspiracy has been organizing artist-led events since 2005. Its mission is to inspire Dallas’ art and music scenes to join forces for the benefit of local nonprofit arts organizations that offer creative programming in the form of art or music that gives back to youth, families and citizens of Dallas.
In addition to Wrecked and its primary fall fundraiser, the organization recently added an ArtCon(cert) series to keep the charitable party going throughout the year.