Frist Art Museum's annual gala brings color to life in Nashville

The 2023 Frist Gala annual black-tie dinner and cocktail reception, held recently at the Frist Art Museum, was striking at every turn. Guests entered the museum's historic art deco Grand Lobby that was awash with color and drama. Life-sized animal sculptures were bathed in pink, and neon-hued lights were nestled among the florals of hot pinks, reds, bright yellows and corals. It all was inspired by the theme and bold colors of the Frist’s exhibition devoted to Jeffrey Gibson: The Body Electric.

Gibson, born in Colorado in 1972, is of Cherokee heritage and a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw. He is known for merging various artistic styles and historical and contemporary cultural references with bursts of color in multiple disciplines.

As guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres in the Grand Lobby, they praised the fabulous exhibit and marveled at the museum. Many of the women wore colorful gowns paying homage to the vivid exhibit.

Later, as guests pulled themselves from the colorful exhibits and moved into the elegant dining tent in the Turner Courtyard, they couldn’t help but notice the fun reference to Gibson’s piece "Know You're Magick Baby." Huge illuminated letters spelling “MAGICK” hung from the ceiling of the gala tent. White draping on the walls and the high gloss white floors were the perfect backdrop to highlight the kaleidoscopic linens and bursts of multicolored florals.

Co-chairs Delphine Damon and Cathy Grier, stunning in gowns of various shades of pink, were all smiles as they saw their vision come to fruition. The event decor was handled by H Three Events, which wowed the guests with elegance and whimsy.

The spring-inspired dinner was provided by Kristen Winston Catering. The first course was a crisp salad of spring greens, strawberries, citrus, crispy goat cheese, avocado, balsamic and edible flowers. The entrée was a filet of beef, lemon mascarpone orzo, asparagus, baby carrots, poached radishes, sugar snap peas and herb soubise. Dessert was a refreshing spring trifle of vanilla mascarpone, fresh berries, raspberry sorbet and lemon cake. It was divine.

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Among the guests enjoying the evening were Sylvia Rapoport and Jerry Atnip, Glenna and Samuel Hazen, Mayor John Cooper and Laura Cooper, Kate and Steve Ezell, Rhymes and Prentice Stabler, Robin and Richard Patton, and Tricia and Chuck Elcan.

The Frist Gala and its accompanying Patron Party make up the museum’s largest fundraiser. The gala raises money to go to the museum’s general operating fund and help bring art to Middle Tennessee, including educational art workshops for children and adults.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Frist Gala raises money for Frist Art Museum programs