DALLAS (October 21, 2012) –
On Saturday, October 20, the 14th annual TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art benefit
dinner and contemporary art auctionraised
a total of $4.5 million in art and
luxury packages sold with funds benefiting amfAR,
The Foundation for AIDS Research, and the Dallas Museum of Art. With a
few pieces left to sell on Sunday, the organizers are hopeful they will reach a
record $5 million by the end of the year.
Close to 475 people attended
the sold-out black-tie event, chaired by noted art patron and
longtime TWO x TWO supporter, Amy Phelan,
and hosted annually by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky at their Richard Meier-designed home,
The Rachofsky House. Art co-chairs for
the 2012 event were Lindsey and
Patrick Collins.
“The $40 million
raised over the past 14 years is a testament to the continued donations by
artists and dealers worldwide,” said Howard Rachofsky. “This event would not be possible without the
generous nature of artists dedicated to the support of AIDS
research and HIV prevention.”
The Saturday evening event was
designed by Todd Fiscus of todd.
event design. creative services and included
cocktails and a silent auction, followed by dinner, and a live auction
conducted by Jamie Niven, Chairman,
Sotheby’s, North and South America. There were 141
works of art offered in the live and silent auctions this year including ten
commissioned one-of-a-kind signature Nancy Gonzalez Leaf Tote bags designed by
world class artists.
Artworks by 2012 amfAR honoree Richard
Phillips as well as Jim Lambie, Thomas Demand and Dana Schutz among others were
sold during the live auction. The live
auction also featured luxury auction items including a private portrait sitting
by Karl Lagerfeld, which went to a bidder in the room for $125,000.
Since its inception, TWO x TWO
for AIDS and Art has raised more than $40
million in support of essential AIDS research at amfAR and for the
Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund at the Dallas Museum of Art. 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.
The fundraising total was announced this morning by
TWO x TWO host Howard Rachofsky at a private brunch hosted by Amy and Vernon
Faulconer, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, and the Gagosian Gallery. The brunch event was held at The Warehouse, a
new private art storage facility owned by Howard Rachofsky and Vernon
Faulconer.
Dallas
Museum of Art Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art Jeffery Grove
addressed the group of invited guests and introduced Cindy Rachofsky, amfAR
board member and TWO x TWO host, who presented artist Richard Phillips with
amfAR’s 2012 Award of Excellence for
Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS.
In addition to the live and
silent auctions at Saturday night’s gala, the evening’s highlight was a special
performance by superstar and Tony Award winner Alan Cumming.
The presenting
Sponsor for First Look 2012 was Karl Lagerfeld for Fossil. The week-long festivities leading up to the
TWO x TWO gala included the First Look party on Thursday, this year featuring a
“Karlify Yourself” special boutique and photo booth complete with Karl
Lagerfeld designed items for sale.
Over the years, previous VIP celebrity guests at TWO x TWO events have
included Patti LaBelle, Sharon Stone, Sigourney Weaver, Shirley MacLaine, Liza
Minnelli, Barry Manilow, Natasha Richardson, Taylor Dayne, Dita Von Teese,
Stanley Tucci, Harry Belafonte, Gavin Rossdale, John Benjamin Hickey and
Christian Siriano. Renowned artists
Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Julian Schnabel, April Gornik, Joel Shapiro,
Cecily Brown, Tom Friedman, Elizabeth Peyton, Jim Hodges, Peter Doig, and Mark
Grotjhan have been honored.
ABOUT TWO BY TWO FOR AIDS AND ART
Since its inception, TWO x TWO for AIDS and
Art has raised more than $40 million in
support of essential AIDS research at amfAR and for the Contemporary Art
Acquisitions Fund at the Dallas Museum of Art.
TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art is the largest U.S. fundraiser for amfAR and
the Dallas Museum of Art and is recognized as one of the top events in Dallas.
BENEFICIARIES
amfAR, The
Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations
dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education,
and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has
invested more than $366 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more
than 2,000 research teams worldwide. Visit www.amfar.org.
Established in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) ranks among
the leading art institutions in the country and is distinguished by its
innovative exhibitions and groundbreaking educational programs. At the heart of
the Museum and its programs is its global collection, which encompasses more
than 24,000 works and spans 5,000 years of history, representing a full range
of world cultures.
Proceeds from TWO x TWO support the DMA’s
Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund and exhibitions and have been used to
purchase over 115 major works of contemporary art for the museum over the last
thirteen years.
Located in the vibrant Arts District of
downtown Dallas, the Museum welcomes more than half a million visitors annually
and acts as a catalyst for community creativity, engaging people of all ages
and backgrounds with a diverse spectrum of programming, from exhibitions and
lectures to concerts, literary events, and dramatic and dance presentations. The DMA directs all
proceeds from TWO x TWO to the Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund and
exhibitions. Visit www.DallasMuseumofArt.org.