On Saturday, October 25, the 16th annual TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art benefit dinner and contemporary art auction raised a record $7 million with funds benefiting amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Close to 465 people attended the sold-out black-tie event, chaired by noted art patrons and longtime TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art supporters, John and Lisa Runyon, and hosted annually by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky at their Richard Meier-designed home, The Rachofsky House.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to the artists, gallerists, and TWO x TWO supporters. Their generosity has allowed us to raise $7 million, bringing our 16-year total to $52 million. TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art continues to play a monumental role in fundraising for amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art,” said Howard Rachofsky.
The fundraising total was announced this morning by Howard Rachofsky at a private brunch hosted by Amy and Vernon Faulconer and Cindy and Howard Rachofsky. The brunch event was held at The Warehouse, a private art storage facility, owned by Howard Rachofsky and Vernon Faulconer, which includes an extensive library, and 18,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Gavin Delahunty, the Dallas Museum of Art Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, spoke about artist Wade Guyton and his work, followed by Eric Muscatell, Vice President of Development, amfAR, who presented Wade Guyton with amfAR’s 2014 Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS.
The Saturday evening gala was designed by Todd Fiscus of TODD Events, who carried out a golden hued theme within the Freedome, a 7,000-square-foot geodesic dome which stood at 48 feet tall in the center and seated the gala guests.
The night included cocktails and a silent auction, followed by a seated, multi-course dinner. The evening began with thank yous to the sponsors by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, TWO x TWO Director Melissa Meeks Ireland, and award-winning actor and longtime TWO x TWO supporter John Benjamin Hickey, who also served as the emcee for the gala.
Maxwell Anderson, the Eugene McDermott Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, also addressed the guests. Actor Allison Janney, a guest of Presenting Sponsor Audi of America, introduced the featured entertainer CeeLo Green, the multi Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter. Also in attendance were Erykah Badu and Tyson Chandler.
There were 125 works of art offered in the live and silent auctions this year. The live auction, conducted by Jamie Niven, Chairman, Sotheby’s, North and South America, featured works by 2014 amfAR honoree Wade Guyton as well as Do Ho Suh, Jeff Koons, Sadamasa Motonaga, Frank Bowling, Roni Horn, and Shinro Ohtake. Guyton’s piece went for a record-breaking $2.6 million.
The annual black-tie gala, part of a week-long series of events, is the largest U.S. fundraiser for amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art. Since its inception, TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art has raised $52 million in support of essential AIDS research at amfAR and for the Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund at the Dallas Museum of Art.
Source: amfAR
