As bad as traffic was in the Arts District Thursday night, it had spread like melted butter over pancakes, just not as tasty.
No matter how well-planned, no route worked Friday, October 18. Thanks to closed streets due to the Aurora project and the vehicle lights, downtown Dallas looked like a splashy volcano with streams of red lights.
That was the numero uno topic at the Nasher XChange gala in The Joule ballroom. Yes, once guests pulled up to the valet, they were directed to the express elevator that took them directly to the second-floor ballroom. But before reaching this very special celebration, they had to maneuver their way with dexterity and patience to get there. Even Nasher Director of External Affairs Jill Magnuson admitted using a cab to get there from the Nasher Sculpture Center. And Mayor Mike Rawlings wished out loud, “I don’t know whether to complain to the mayor, or pat him on the back.”
Nasher Associate Director of Media Relations Kristen Gibbins admitted that in selecting the date, the Nasher team had taken on a real challenge. In addition to the XChange gala in honor of the Nasher Sculpture Center’s 10th anniversary, there was also the final ‘til Midnight at the Nasher for the season along with Aurora and the next morning’s Komen Race for the Cure at NorthPark.
Allison V. Smith
Rusty Rose
Howard and Fanchon Hallam and Howard Rachofsky
Kelli and Allen Questrom
But Friday night at The Joule was a true come together for those 250 Nasher friends and supporters (Deedie and Rusty Rose, Jennifer and John Eagle, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Mary McDermott Cook and Dan Patterson, Mary Jalonick, Rena Pedersen, Holly Haber, Terri Provencal, Margaret McDermott, Kelli and Allen Questrom, Allison V. Smith and Barry Whistler) and the artists (Lara Almarcegui, Good/Bad Art Collective, Rachel Harrison, Alfredo Jaar, Liz Larner, Charles Long, Rick Lowe, Vicki Meek, Ruben Ochoa and Ugo Rondinone), who contributed the ten projects that have sprung up around Dallas to commemorate the anniversary.
Emery Martin and Kerstin Hovland
Talk of the guests in the lobby included NorthPark General Manager Billy Hines telling how earlier in the day one of the art pieces, “Fountainhead,” a virtual fountain that allows people to donate $1, $3 or $5 to three charities, had been installed in NP’s South Court. The fountain works electronically and was amazing thanks to Los Angeles techies Emery Martin and Kerstin Hovland . . Dallas Film Society’s Lee Papert talking about Lee Daniels being the featured guest at the upcoming November 8th Art of Film. . . Ruth Robinson with a natty jade-colored cane in one hand and on the arm of Nasher board chair Stephen Stamas. Ruth had just returned from a trip to Europe and Australia. . . Matthew Simons in white ruffle tuxedo shirt and electric blue velvet evening jacket was looking right at home at The Joule. Just a few days before he had left Neiman’s downtown couture salon to join up with the Headington retail group as its general manager. . . Michelle Wood, who had lived in Las Colinas for three years, had moved to the Vickery Meadow area and has become a “housemother” to a group of artisans from Iraq, who had been involved with Rick Lowe’s XChange projects. In Michelle’s group of talented Iraqis were paper-flower artist Sahra Mohammed and famed artist Ameer Alwan, who fled Iraq in 2004.
Sahra Mohammed and Michelle Wood
Just as the lobby was spilling over with guests, the doors opened to the ballroom for a seated dinner and very brief remarks. At 8:35 Nancy Nasher described the Nasher Sculpture Center as “a one-of-a-kind,” located in a great building with a garden that’s an integral part of it. Recognizing city officials Philip Kingston, Tennell Atkins and Mayor Mike, Nancy added that Rawlings had brought his daughter/artist Michelle Rawlings.
After just coming from the Aurora launch, a tieless Mayor Mike told the group, “The Nasher Sculpture Center continues to be a shining light for Dallas.” He then talked about how the crowds filling the downtown streets might make you think you’re “in Vienna or Barcelona!” A woman in the back of the room shouted out: “Dallas!”
He then recalled a conversation with Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge designer Santiago Calatrava. The mayor told Calatrava that compared to the great cities of Europe, Dallas was only 150 years old. Calatrava responded, “That’s the good news, because you are building a city for centuries to come.”
Following dinner (Homestead Farms farro tabouleh with dehydrated tomato and latte da dairy yogurt lemon hummus; halibut with spicers creek braised beans, heirloom carrots and parsnip puree; and Texas pear pumpkin cobbler with almond crumble and horchata ice cream), Nasher Sculpture Center Director Jeremy Strick told how photographer Allison V. Smith had been documenting the collection. He then went on to introduce each of the artists. Well, he introduced eight of them. Just as the eighth team sat down and he asked for all to join him in applauding the artists’ contributions, a flash shout came from a table in the back of the room — “Rick! Rick!” Smiling, Jeremy realized that he still needed to introduce Rick Lowe’s pop-up market places in Vickery Meadows. Everyone laughed as Jeremy recovered and Rick stood, waving for the rest of the Vickery Meadows representatives to stand, too.
Jeremy paused. Another flash shout arose from another table — “Liz! Liz!” Leaning on the podium, Jeremy planted his chin in his hand and smiled, acknowledging that Liz Larner hadn’t been recognized. Everyone laughed with Jeremy as he recognized the California sculptor. As she stood, Liz blew a kiss to Jeremy.
He then asked, “Anyone else?” Everyone combined laugher with hands coming together. Laughter, art and friends are the perfect recipe, don’t you know?
After a brief video, guests congratulated the Nasher team on their anniversary and talked with the artists whose works will be on display throughout the city until Sunday, February 16.
Tony Tasset’s “Eye”
Departure
With Dallas’ version of Gatsby’s Owl-Eyed Man watching from across the street, guests returned to the sidewalk outside the Joule to get their cars and head home.