From disco land to candy land

Fun and fabulous Dallasites boogie to $9.4 million at 'fantasy disco' Two x Two Gala

What could possibly make the annual Two x Two Gala coming-together of Dallas' art-fashion-philanthropy worlds even more fun and fabulous? Taking it to a disco, and then to a candy land.

This year's sold-out, black-tie dinner and contemporary art auction attracted 535 guests who boogied it up to the tune of $9.4 million for the amFAR and the Dallas Museum of Art.

Hosted on October 22 by Howard and Cindy Rachofsky and John and Lisa Runyon, the 2022 Two x Two Gala went down in a "modern disco fantasy" designed by Todd Fiscus' Todd Events. Per tradition, the event was held at the Rachofsky House, under the signature 7,000-square-foot geodesic dome tent, which soars 48 feet in the center. Fiscus' team transformed into a space into the modern disco by lacing together a palette of bright colors with nature and glam textures like mirrored metals, white bleached wood, brushed brass, chartreuse, and burgundy.

As guests arrived, donning whimsical gowns and platform heels, the evening began with a Tequila Casa Dragones, La Grande Dame, and Belvedere cocktail reception and an art and luxury item silent auction. It was followed by a seated, multicourse dinner. For the first time, an all-vegan menu was served.

The Rachofskys and Runyons welcomed the invitation-only crowd, before turning things over to Dr. Anna Katherine Brodbeck, the Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art, who introduced patrons to honoree Rashid Johnson. AmfAR Co-Chairs of the Board, T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy, presented Rashid Johnson with amfAR’s 2022 Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS.

After dinner, Nile Rodgers and CHIC entertained the crowd with a variety hits, including ”Le Freak, “ “We are Family,” and — fittingly for the disco theme — "Let's Dance."

Of course, the order of the night was raising big bucks, and that fell largely on the shoulders of auctioneer Michael Macaulay, Senior Vice President of Sotheby's. The live, contemporary art auction featured works by artists including honoree Johnson, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Kyle Dunn, Ulala Imai, Spencer Lewis, and Rafa Macarrón.

In all, 132 works of art were offered in the live and silent auctions, as well as a number of luxury and experiential packages. Bidders had plenty of time to prepare their paddles — the Two x Two First Look preview party was held two weeks earlier at Rachofsky House.

The party didn't stop when the bidding ceased. An after-party, presented by Nancy Rogers,rocked the back garden of The Rachofsky House until the wee hours. Also designed by Todd Events, the after-party transported the crowd to a pink candy wonderland, complete with all-pink color palette, lip motifs, “Slurp” neon signs, and an oversized lollipop for guests to pose with in the photo booth. The late-night revelers enjoyed Moët Hennessy Brandy Alexanders while dancing to the beats of DJ Lucy Wrubel. As a party favor, everyone left with a Pizzana’s best-selling pepperoni pizza by Chef Daniele Utidi.

Two x Two has become the largest fundraiser in the United States for essential AIDS research at amfAR, as well as the largest single annual source of funds for contemporary art acquisitions at the DMA; to date, the event has raised over $113 million. Through its funding, the DMA has added more than 300 major works of contemporary art to its permanent collection.

Photo by Bruno Snap The Picture

Cameron Silver, Jenny Kirtland

Notable attendees of the 2022 gala included Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki, Sheree Hovsepian, Ceron, Amanda Schufeldt, Howard Rachofsky, Kasey Lemkin, Bernard Nussbaumer, Michelle Nussbaumer, Cameron Silver, Jenny Kirtland, Coley Means, Bradley Agather Means, Gene Jones, Jerry Jones, Melissa Ireland, Charlotte Jones, Amir Rozwadowski, Haley Anderson, Christen Wilson, Kelli Ford, Jerry Ford, Lilah Ramzi, Benita Chan, Leigh Anne Clark, Maria Valim, Marc Metrick, Deborah Metrick, Mariel Sholem, Jamie Sholem, Matthew Looney, Alexandra Looney, Merrick Egan, Sara Fay Egan, Taylor Olson, Amy Phelan, Brian Bolke, Nimesh Patel, Bina Palnitkar Patel, Jamie O’Banion, Porschla Kidd, Bela Cooley, Thomas Keller, Bertha Gonzalez Nieves, Terri Provencal, Anna Meliksetian, Sheryl Adkins-Green, Esther Kim Varet, Kohshin Finley, Ryan Beal, Piper Beal, Missy Rogers Peck, Nancy Carlson, Jordan Jones, Kaleta Blaffer Johnson, John Domolky, Marguerite Hoffman, Elaine Agather, and LaQuan Smith.

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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.