Athens, Ga. – The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia will host its most important fundraiser, Elegant Salute, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Elegant Salute XIII: Black to White celebrates the premier monographic exhibition “De Wain Valentine: Human Scale,” on view at the museum until Jan. 27.
Chairs Betsy K. Dorminey and K. Paige Carmichael let the color and light of California-based artist De Wain Valentine’s large-scale sculptures inspire the event’s theme and décor. Attendees are encouraged to wear their best black or white formal attire.
The evening will begin in the M. Smith Griffith Grand Hall with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. At 7:30 p.m., Epting Events will serve a multicourse seated dinner featuring a bacon-wrapped filet with white asparagus and roasted heirloom vegetables.
After dinner, guests are invited to Full Spectrum Disco, presented by Athens DJ duo Krush Girls, to dance the night away with cocktails and dessert.
All programming and exhibitions at the museum are fully funded by private donations from corporations, foundations and individuals, making this biennial gala vital to the museum’s success. The Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, the museum’s membership program under the direction of fundraising chair Julie Roth, hopes to raise $100,000 in support. The net proceeds from the fundraiser will support all of the museum’s programs, including exhibitions, lectures, family days, workshops and symposia.
Sponsors of the evening will receive special in-kind benefits and will be treated to a private tour of “De Wain Valentine: Human Scale” with a major collector of Valentine’s works.
The museum is well on its way to reaching its net goal thanks to the generosity of Todd Emily, Boone A. Knox, Marilyn and John McMullan, C.L. Morehead Jr. and Flowers Inc., and Kathy Prescott and Grady Thrasher.
Other committee chairs include Sandi Turner (décor), Ann Scoggins (flowers), Michael Montesani (logistics) and Devereux Burch and Everett Long (social).
Tickets are $300 per person for the full event or $65 per person for admission after dinner, at 9:30 p.m., for Full Spectrum Disco. Tickets can be purchased online at georgiamuseum.org/elegantsalute.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, call 706/542-0830.
Museum Information
Partial support for the exhibitions and programs at the Georgia Museum of Art is provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The council is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Individuals, foundations and corporations provide additional museum support through their gifts to the University of Georgia Foundation. The Georgia Museum of Art is located in the Performing and Visual Arts Complex on the East Campus of the University of Georgia. The address is 90 Carlton St., University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. 30602-6719. For more information, including hours, see http://www.georgiamuseum.org or call 706/542-GMOA (4662).
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Note to editors: The following images are available for download.
http://multimedia.uga.edu/media/images/ElegantSalute2013_group_1.jpg
Cutline: Co-chairs K. Paige Carmichael (left) and Betsy K. Dorminey are pictured with social co-chair Everett Long.
http://multimedia.uga.edu/media/images/ElegantSalute2013_Krush-Girls.jpg
Cutline: Chris Bilheimer and Dan Donahue of Krush Girls