What a way to kick off a gala! The Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s O What a Night Gala Patron Party on Oct. 17 gathered artists and patrons to get the first, in-person look at all of the stunning live auction pieces and to start the celebrations.
Held at the art-filled home of Fern and Kevin Watters, partygoers enjoyed food from Black Pearl Catering, specialty cocktails including a French 75 — and for the New Orleans Saints fans, there was even a TV on broadcasting the Denver Broncos game.
Among the live auction works on view were those by Alex Beard, Aron Belka, David Borgerding, Michael J. Deas, Thomas Deaton, Ben Depp, Keith Duncan, Simon Gunning, Kelli Scott Kelley, Kaori Maeyama, Jeremy Novy, Anastasia Pelias, Matty Scobey, Carlton Scott Sturgill and James Surls.
Surls was also honored with the Opus Award along with philanthropists and long-time Ogden Museum of Southern Art supporters Betsy Nalty and Lloyd “Sonny” Shields at the gala, which was at the museum on Oct. 19. That night featured a silent auction in the Patrick F. Taylor Library with entertainment from Sporty’s Brass Band, which lead partygoers through the museum and into the decorated tent where the main event featured the awards ceremony, the live auction helmed by CK Swett, the seated dinner by Palate New Orleans and dessert from Beth Biundo, and Jeremy Davenport performing, with Water Seed on stage later for dancing.
Event co-chairs were Deanna Rodriguez, Fern Watters and Sharonda R. Williams.
Fun Fact: The Ogden Museum’s annual summer benefit, Magnolia Ball, is June 7
and will celebrate the exhibition, “Hoa Tay (Flower Hands.)”
