Runway to Retail: MCA’s Dry Ice Gala

Monday, January 26, 2009

MCA’s Dry Ice Gala

About 200 enjoyed an intimate evening on January 24th that began with a cocktail reception in the loading dock of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Guests were offered vodka shots as welcome drinks, before enjoying cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres such as miniature hot dogs and crab cakes.Taking in the raw space was a tactile experience, as it was transformed by homemade chandeliers creatively hung by rubber bands, pink ambiance lighting and oversized see-through cylinders with electric pink and green wires swirled about inside. Before heading upstairs to the winter wonderland for a lounge-style dinner, guests paraded inside the service elevator that had been wallpapered from floor-to-ceiling with bubble wrap. A fun beginning to the night ahead. The Wolfgang Puck catered dinner featured small bites of comfort food on one of Chicago’s coldest nights. Roasted chestnut soup, truffled mac & cheese (served in tiny individual ramekins),and a miniature chicken potpie were among the treats. After dinner five pieces were auctioned off from artists Olafur Eliasson, Jenny Holzer and Jeff Koons. The highest bidding price went to Eliasson’s Super Star - a stunning prism mobile going for $92,000, while Koons’ Monkey Train sold for $30,000. Following the auction, guests like Ikram Goldman and Mayor Daley were ushered in to hear the star of the night, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright as he sat at his grand piano playing and singing favorites, Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk, Hallelujah (Shrek’s most popular ballad) and California. Revelers left a memorable night at the MCA with warm coffees in hand. Tickets went up to $2,500 for individuals and $35,000 per table. Over $800,000 was raised for MCA programming.
-Melissa Maynard