Ogden Museum to hold O What A Night! Gala

NEW ORLEANS – On Oct. 18, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art will hold its annual fundraising gala, “O What a Night!,” offering a celebration of Southern art, culture and cuisine. The evening highlights the mission of the Ogden Museum: To broaden the knowledge, understanding, interpretation and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South, according to the Museum’s news release.
O What A Night! is a nationally recognized celebration of high energy and patron commitment that has been profiled by both Elle Décor, and Garden and Gun, the news release stated.
This year’s Gala chairs, Karen Solomon and Katy Weil, are designing an evening to pay homage to William A. Goldring, New Orleans philanthropist, Ogden Museum trustee and a founding benefactor, and 2014 Opus Award recipient.
Goldring’s contributions to the cultural landscape of the South have created an enduring legacy, the news release noted.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a silent auction presented by New Orleans Auction Galleries in the historic Patrick Taylor Library designed by the master architect Henry Hobson Richardson, with specialty cocktails presented by Sazerac, and hors d’oeuvres from Chef Justin Devillier, owner of La Petite Grocery.
Devillier received James Beard nominations for Best Chef South in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He was also featured on the most recent season of Bravo’s “Top Chef.” Additionally, Devillier is preparing the cuisine for the Patron Party held at the home of Katy and Chris Weil.
The silent auction will showcase the works of 38 established and emerging talents from across the South, including Raine Bedsole, Martin Benson, Vidal Blankenstein, Andrew Bucci, Linda Burgess, Sally Chandler, Langdon Clay, Maude Schuyler Clay, Lee Deigaard, Marianne Desmarais, George Dunbar, Maggie Dunlap, William Dunlap, James Flynn, Sarah Freeman, William Goodman, Brian Guidry and William Guion.
Talents also include Doug Knotts, Sharon Kopriva, David Lambert, Beth Lambert, Norah Lovell, Shirley Rabe Masinter, Richard McCabe, Michael Meads, James Michalopoulos, David Rae Morris, Jack Niven, Sherry Owens, Mallory Page, Keith Perelli, Sibylle Peretti, Tom Rankin, Gregory Saunders, Richard Sexton, Julie Silvers, S.J. Staninski, Brandon Thibodeaux, Mose Tolliver, Eudora Welty, Milly Moorhead West, Mitchell Wright. Windsor Court Hotel, Bill Yates and Sean Yseult.
Following the silent auction and cocktail reception, gala attendees will have a seated dinner from nationally renowned Chef Donald Link, the recipient of several James Beard awards, the news release said. Link’s New Orleans restaurants include Herbsaint, Cochon, Butcher and Peche, which all celebrate Cajun and Southern regional cooking with an emphasis on locally sourced and sustainably raised ingredients.
The live auction will showcase the works of 14 artists who have contributed to the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to place bids on artwork by John Alexander, William Andrews, Thornton Dial, Michael J. Deas, William Dunlap, Lin Emery, Margaret Evangeline, Skylar Fein, Pinkney Herbert, Ida Kohlmeyer, Hunt Slonem, Allison Stewart, James Surls and Robert Warrens.
Other featured items include a vintage red Miata convertible — gifted to the actor John Goodman by Steven Spielberg for his performance in Spielberg’s 1989 film “Always” — as well as the return of the New Orleans Saints package, providing exclusive access during a home game to the winning bidder.
Auctioneer C K Swett joins the Ogden Museum for his second year at the O What a Night! Gala. His auction-floor antics have earned him the nickname of “Mad-Hatter of Charity Auctions” by NBC, and the New York Times cites him as having “managed to shake up the staid world of auctioneering,” however the auctioneer states his greatest pride — and privilege — is in helping non-profit institutions raise critical funding, the release stated.
For more information or to purchase tickets to O What A Night! Online visit ogdenmuseum.org or email development@ogdenmuseum.org or call 504-539-9616.
Proceeds from the event will support the Museum’s exhibition, education and outreach programs.