The Kimbell Art Museum's red-haute annual gala whisked guests to Morocco for an exotic night of fun and fundraising December 6.
About 375 museum fans, art collectors, philanthropists, and members of the Kimbell's young patrons' club descended on the museum for the Red Party, themed "Night at the Kasbah" for 2019. They were dressed to the nines in their bohemian-chic cocktail best, many sporting the color of the night, of course — red.
Event co-chairs Lisa Alcorn, Hannah Davis Ryon, and Whitney Wynne — and their host committee of about 50 — had a full night of surprises ahead.
Partygoers were greeted at the door with incense and belly dancers. Once inside, the motif continued with Morrocan music by Jamal Mohammed Ensemble, dance performances, henna tattoos, and even a snake charmer.
When they weren't attempting to charm snakes themselves, guests fueled up on Moroccan Old Fashioned cocktails from spirits sponsor Acre Distilling. They noshed on bites by B&B Butchers & Restaurant — including their signature Tommy’s Bacon and Carpet Baggers — followed by meatball sliders and spicy popcorn for a late-night treat.
Music by DJ Ronnie Heart and fortune telling were popular attractions in the VIP lounge. Then, in-demand DFW Blake Ward kept the beats pumping and the dance floor full.
As a bonus, patrons could enjoy the Kimbell's current blockbuster exhibition, "Renoir: The Body, The Senses" without all the pesky crowds during regular museum hours.
But the event is, first and foremost, a fundraiser for the Kimbell Kids education programs. Patrons bid early and often in a silent art auction that featured the works of beloved artists and photographers, including Nancy Lamb, William Greiner, Layla Luna, Daniel Blagg, Patrick Kelly, Allison V. Smith, Laura Wilson, Matt Kleberg, J.C. Pace III, Joseph Havel, Rob Caslin, Steven Price, and Johnny Robertson.
But this wasn't one of those extravagant art auctions where winning bids rivaled the cost of a luxury home. Even with bids kept to accessible four-figure prices, the auction goes a long way to help the Red Party raise $100,000 annually for the museum's art education programs, which provide free learning experiences to thousands of North Texas families each year.
Guests spotted in the crowd, having a great time, included Kimbell director Eric Lee and wife Rima, Jennifer Dyess, DeAnna Young, Mitchell Young, Lisa Alcorn, Peter Alcorn, Belinda Marshall, Karl Marshall, Garett Essl, John Wynne, Kristen Cherry, Leah Hammett, Meredith Murray, Talley Hodges, Emily Hyde, Bailey Summers, Lisa Burton, Atlee Phillips, Tony Green, Karen Davis, Greg Cannon, Drew Jamison, Meggan Jamison, Blake Griffin, R. Nelson Beville III, Madi Boenker, Emily Braly, Amy Lively, Courtney Prescott, Jenny Dupree, and Christy Smith.
Karen Davis, Greg Cannon
Fort Worth's Alice Walton is primarily an arts philanthropist now.
Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images