It was a night when art, music and food collaborated to create fundraising magic when the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s popular Magnolia Ball returned on June 7.
The party, held in honor of the exhibition “Hoa Tay (Flower Hands): Southern Artists of the Vietnamese Diaspora,” was spread throughout the museum complex, offering fun elements for guests to enjoy, in addition to the museum’s exhibitions.
Members of Krewe des Fleurs welcomed guests, while entertainment included DJ Heelturn and DJ Juane Jordan in the atrium, Mia Borders on the rooftop terrace and what proved to be very popular, the karaoke stage in the Patrick F. Taylor Library. A glitter bar and tattoo station (with temporary tattoos inspired by the “Hoa Tay” exhibition) helped adorn guests, who could also make paper flowers and enjoy Bau Cua Cá Cop (Gourd, Crab, Shrimp, Fish), which is a traditional Vietnamese dice game primarily played during Lunar New Year celebrations.
In keeping with the Vietnamese mood, food included chè thach (sort of a jelly “soup” by VIET (Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training) and pot stickers and vegetable rolls from Magasin Vietnamese Cafe. Other delicacies included a summer asparagus and truffled egg salad tartlet from Mamou, masitas de puerto from Manolito, maguro tartare from Tsunami and grape leaves from Saba, to name a few.
The silent auction, with more than 65 items, stood out for its quality offerings, including art by Christian Dinh and Katie McCall, as well as items from Hotel Saint Vincent, among others.
Event co-chairs were Artemis Antippas, Uyên Dinh, Laurie and James Kalyvas, and Alex M. Sorapuru.
Fun Fact: To tie in with the exhibition the museum was celebrating, Jeremy Gillespie and Nail Gallery NOLA were on site to provide nail art.
