Movers and shakers of Tampa Bay's arts and cultural scene took over the Museum of Fine Arts for the inaugural Muse@MFA on Fri., Jan. 31, presented by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. The event offered fun and camaraderie, and generated enthusiasm for the local arts scene.
[jump]
Guests were treated to a unique soiree with splashy interactive digital art by HD Interactive, pop-up performances, fashion and artful dinner courses. The event honored Studio@620 co-founder and producing director Bob Devin Jones and actress/performer Becca McCoy, who couldn't attend because she was performing in Disenchanted! at the Straz Center. The honorees received original glass award from Duncan McClellan Glass, designed by Jacob Stout and Mariel Bass. Laura Fage of Laura Fage Signature Events and Design came up with the theme.
"Many students and professionals gave significantly of their art, time, talent and products so that we were able to afford to produce a fundraiser unlike any other," said John Collins, Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. "They got together at the event, breathed improvisation into the evening, and by the end of the night everyone was dancing — which was completely unplanned! We rocked the MFA."
Cabaret performers and arts scene favorites Paul Wilborn and Eugenie Bondurant performed a fun, swingin' set with visual aids, backed by Latin jazz/fusion band La Lucha: Alejandro Arenas on bass and Mark Feinman on drums. Pianist John O'Leary had to back out at the last minute because his wife went into labor (congrats to you both) and a sub, David Cubillos, filled in.
"The interactive art exhibit that we commissioned and premiered will be repurposed to aid in creative care programming — so we are paying it forward," Collins said.
While there were well-heeled folks in attendance, the celebration did not have an elitist overtone at all. Let's hope the tradition continues next year.
Proceeds from tickets went to St. Petersburg Arts Alliance programs. Here are some photos from the event, by CL Contributing Photographer Daniel Veintimilla. (For more photos, click here.)