On Saturday, March 7th, the Miami art scene came to support the highly anticipated annual Art of the Party fundraising event presented by Valentino at the Pérez Art Museum Miami. This was the 6th annual fundraiser and is PAMM’s largest of the year! This event brings focus to the museum’s spectacular architecture, to Miami’s incredible art scene, and supports PAMM’s vital arts program. Supporters of the program raised an amazing $1.3 million to benefit their arts education and outreach programs. Outside of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system, this program is the largest of its kind. The night was co-hosted by chairs Darlene & Jorge M. Pérez and Dorothy & Aaron Podhurst, and honored Susana and Alberto Ibargüen. The lead sponsor was Ms. Sylvia Pope. Philanthropists, artists, and civic leaders experienced the divine setting, and the good vibrations rippled throughout downtown Miami.
Upon entering, guests were enticed to take pictures and give interviews. They enjoyed a dimly lit cocktail hour where they were able to converse with each other, enjoy tasty drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Popular tunes were played by the violinist Jared Burnett and Juan Areco Duo. Models wearing De Beers, one of the event’s sponsors, walked around the cocktail hour presenting the jewelry lines necklaces and earrings.
Guests then made their way to the East Portico, where a beautifully set dinner took place. Lee Brian Schrager, who conceptualized Art of the Party, produced the event once again. He did a wonderful job immersing the guests with the food and art of Miami. The dinner was provided by Chef Gregory Pugin, Christopher Bellanca, and Constellation Culinary Group. The evening celebrated honorees Susana and Alberto Ibargüen, and a toast was given by Franklin Sirmans to the Pérez Prize awardee, Daniel Lind-Ramos. He was awarded the prize due to his achievements and contributions to the artistic community.
The Art of the Party Remix commenced after dinner and was an unforgettable scene. The waterfront party took place under the stars. The DJ Gabby Mejia played classic throwbacks and got the people dancing on a rather chilly night. Hors d’oeuvres were passed around and dessert stands with delicious options were placed throughout the party. A large bar was placed in the center of the floor, guests participated in a fun photo booth, and live fashion sketches from artist Véronique Jacquart.
The party was a success and ended on a positive note. Some of the notable guests who made an appearance at PAMM were artists Cristina Lei Rodriguez, Chuck Close, Antonia Wright, and Ruben Millares; philanthropists, Maria Bechily, Craig Robins and Jackie Soffer, Karen Bechtel and Will Osborne, Stephen Robert and Pilar Crespi, Adrienne Bon Haes and Marvin Friedman, Wayne and Arlene Chaplin, George and Carol Crapple, Sebastian and Natalie Echavarria, Alberto and Susana Ibargüen, Deryl McKissack, Gregory and Leslie Ferrero, Mireille Gonzalez, Rose Ellen Greene, Diane Grob, Luke Palacio, Oti Roberts, Raj and Padma Vattikuti, and Susie and Walid Wahab, lawyer and philanthropist Alexa Wolman, and even the Miami-Dade county commissioner Daniella Levine Cava.
