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In celebration of the Contemporary Arts Center’s 35th birthday season, the 2011 SweetArts event at the CAC on February 12 featured an illuminating idea: Guests wore all black or white to the gala, only to be adorned in costumes, light and color by artists from UP! Unique Productions. The luminescent fashion wasn’t the only bright idea at the event; the stars of the evening – the art installations – were illuminated as well to illustrate this year’s theme: “Art in the Dark.”
Featured art included “A Kiss in the Dark” by Ashley Longshore, “Tunnel” by Paint, “Shadow Box Burlesque” by Trixie Minx and “Love is in the Air” by Mark Kirk of UP!. Event chairs Stephanie Huger, Martine Chaisson and Sandra Chaisson helped make the event a success by offering a premium open bar to guests, plus cuisine from such local establishments as Atchafalaya, Bee Sweet Cupcakes, Creole Creamery, Lilette, Galatoire’s, Herbsaint, La Petite Grocery and many more.
The Mod Dance Party’s DJ Kristen and DJ Matty plus guest DJ Pasta and the Mod Squad Dancers provided the music along with the night’s honorees. The six individuals and organizations who embody the spirit of the cultural community included John Barnes, visual artist and educator; Ben Jaffe, creative director of Preservation Hall;
New Orleans Arts District, represented by Denise Berthiaume and Jean Bragg; New Orleans Fringe Theater Festival;
arts patron Aimeé Farnet Siegel; and Derrick Tabb, founder of Roots of Music.
