Put the visual and musical arts together and you’ve got the basic elements for a good party. Just such a party will be taking place this Thursday evening (10/6) at Tallahassee’s Goodwood Museum and Gardens.
The name of the party is the “Art and Soul Celebration” and it’s a benefit for the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts. LeMoyne’s Executive Director Ann Kozeliski said many of those who show up for the party come in costume portraying famous artists.
“We always get several Jackson Pollocks,” she smiled. “That’s a favorite costume that can be put together rather quickly. Last year we had a wonderful Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe. We have a couple of Roy Lichtensteins coming. There’s always going to be a Frida Kahlo in there. The ‘unibrow’ is a good thing. And we’ve had some old masters the last time; people really put themselves into it.”
Kozeliski mentioned people can bid on or buy outright terrific works by some of the area’s top artists.
“We’re going to have a live auction of artwork starting at a minimum bid, but on that sheet it will say, ‘buy now at x-number of dollars.’ We’ve got a nice selection of art work.”
Okay, so much for the art. Now for the soul. Tallahassee’s own Scotty Barnhart, two-time Grammy Award winner, director of the legendary Count Basie Orchestra and professor of jazz trumpet at Florida State University, will be in charge of the music for the occasion. Kozeliski said LeMoyne had a secret weapon that persuaded the much-in-demand Barnhart to appear at Art and Soul with his trio.
“He is a friend of Stephanie Whitfield who was a board member, then became our ‘sponsor and patron’,” Kozeliski explained. “She has rejoined the board, and that’s how we got Scotty because of Stephanie.”
Accompanying the visual and auditory stimulation will be various beverages – adult and otherwise – along with culinary delights.
“Dinner will be served by Street Chefs. Buffet style, but we are going green at this event, so there will be no paper products. We’re going to sit down like adults and have a good meal.”
And Kozeliski said the fun and frolic happens at Goodwood in the Carriage House this Thursday evening from 6:00 until 9:00. “They can buy tickets online through PayPal; go to our web site: www.lemoyne.org and call us if you have any questions.” And perhaps the most intriguing question is, if you plan to go, which famous artist will you dress up as?
