ARTrategeous Gala fuels pursuit at Scottsdale Arts
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Scottsdale Arts on Saturday, April 1, will transport the Valley to an ethereal world of poetic imagination with The ARTrageous Gala, where dream-like, futuristic projections meet fluid, artistic movement, for a mesmerizing night of ultra-sensory experiences designed to reignite attendees’ passions for the arts.
Held annually, this year’s gala will be centered on the theme of “Bloom,” and it has been reimagined and transformed to heighten its glamour, engagement and forward-thinking nature. The ARTrageous Gala: Bloom will take place at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center, staying true to the year’s theme by celebrating the arts in a natural environment.
“We will have one of the most spectacular backdrops for a magnificent night under the stars,” said Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, president and CEO of Scottsdale Arts. “Our outdoor campus will provide a setting unlike any other.”
Throughout the evening, captivating living art experiences — bursting with vibrant color, light, rhythm and expressive emotion — will be provided by Quixotic, an innovative performance art collective that fuses imagination with technology, dance, projection mapping and live music to create fully immersive, multi-sensory experiences.
Entertainment will also be provided by local artist studio Walter Productions, renowned for its choreography of radiant fire performances using the latest industry-grade fire effects to enthrall and astonish its audiences.
The Bloom gala will feature a variety of activities throughout the evening, including a glamorous red-carpet arrival, a delectable multi-course meal, silent and live auctions, a dessert bar and an awards ceremony recognizing some of the most inspirational and supportive names in Arizona art.
ARTrategeous Gala fuels pursuit at Scottsdale Arts
During the awards ceremony, Scottsdale Arts will present and honor the recipients of the Lifetime Award in Service, the Corporate Trailblazer Award and the Herberger Award for the Arts.
These distinctions are used to show deep gratitude and respect for those who have shown exceptional support and contribution toward Scottsdale Arts’ mission to develop, advance and deliver high-quality arts, cultural experiences and opportunities in Scottsdale to residents, cultural institutions, artists and visitors from around the world.
This year’s awardees include Oskar Knoblauch, recipient of the Lifetime Award in Service as a local Holocaust survivor whose story has inspired exhibitions, a complete curriculum program and other educational initiatives from Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation; SRP, recipient of the Corporate Trailblazer Award for its continual support of Scottsdale Arts events, including the annual Canal Convergence; and Dorothy Lincoln Smith, recipient of the Herberger Award for the Arts for her longtime dedication and contribution to the arts, in addition to her membership in the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art committee.
For Bloom attendees who want to show their support for the arts in Scottsdale and aid community arts initiatives, both silent and live auctions will take place during the gala. Auctions are prominently featured throughout the evening, sparking conversation, interest and a few friendly rivalries as guests bid on donated items. Items often include benefits such as gift cards or experience packages.
According to Erin Krivanek, director of development at Scottsdale Arts, 2022’s ARTrageous Gala welcomed nearly 400 guests and raised more than $335,000 for the development and advancement of community arts initiatives in Scottsdale.
