The 2024 event captivated guests with a fluidity between art and appreciation.
With a sunset that seemed as orchestrated as the dinner it lit, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego welcomed celebrants to “Currents: The Gala at MCASD.”
The Sept. 7 event, the museum’s annual fundraiser, played on the currents of the ocean and the force of its donors to encourage future philanthropy to support its mission to keep contemporary art accessible to a variety of audiences.
“Each artwork in MCASD, … each guest we welcome, represents a unique current and exploration of ideas, emotions and visions,” said Kathryn Kanjo, MCASD David C. Copley director and chief executive.
“MCASD thrives on this current of creativity.”
The first wave of the evening, planned by gala chairs Chris and Adrienne Birchby, came in the form of the sunset cocktail reception in Jacobs Hall, where signature drinks and sushi greeted guests, along with watercolor artists creating take-home portraits of guests throughout the night.
The guests then flowed upstairs to the outdoor art park and an ocean-inspired dinner curated by chef Tim Kolanko of the Urban Kitchen Group and The Kitchen at MCASD, featuring remarks by Kanjo, MCASD Board President Steve Strauss and Chris Birchby.
“Tonight’s guest list really reflects the cultural vitality, the civic pride and the intellectual capacity of this city,” Kanjo said.
Musician Donavon Frankenreiter performed an acoustic set to conclude the meal.
As guests moved indoors to Axline Court, the festivities continued, with Frankenreiter and his band keeping the dance floor charged while others tried the photo booth and sipped on after-dinner cocktails.
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