A New Direction for Sonoma Valley Museum of Art’s Annual Gala
www.svma.org
SONOMA, Calif. — Wet Paint – the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art’s annual gala fundraiser – takes on a French twist this year and moves indoors to a new venue. The event, now called “Rouge!” is scheduled for the evening of August 7 at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. “It focuses the energy of the event, having it at the Museum, and lets us build the excitement in a way that wasn’t possible outdoors,” says event chair Allan Grosh.
The Parisian cabaret theme extends through the food, décor and entertainment, with guests being treated to an evening of great art, along with fabulous French food, cheeses and desserts prepared by The Girl and the Fig. Local vintners will be pleased that the Museum is making one exception to the French theme by serving a selection of the best Sonoma Valley wines.
Former SVMA Board president Jane Milotich expresses the Board’s excitement with this year’s changes, “the Museum will be transformed into fin de siecle Montmartre, where you will stroll avec your martini á la Toulouse-Lautrec, surrounded by live gypsy music of the French bohemian era. Fishnet stockings for les mesdames will be in order, and les hommes artistiques may sport berets, capes, and dashing moustaches. Expect glamour, charm, surprises and lots of ooh la la!”
“One thing we’ve learned from experience is that people want to have a fun evening with entertaining surprises” says Grosh. “We’re also limiting the auction to keep the evening moving along at a brisk pace.”
Grosh and event planner Kristi Amoroso have been working with local decorators and performers to ensure a grand time for those in attendance. “This event is responsible for a good bit of the annual money needed to keep the Museum open to the public,” explains Grosh, noting that Union Bank has recently stepped up as a corporate sponsor of the event. “Between the exhibitions, public programs, and partnerships with the Sonoma Valley schools, the Museum fills such an important role in the community. We want to ensure its continued position as a leader in the arts.”
About the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
With more than 1,000 members, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) (www.svma.org, 707-939-7862) is the largest visual arts organization in the San Francisco North Bay region. It was incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to promote the creation, exhibition, and collection of fine arts, to provide a venue for art exhibition in Sonoma, and to offer educational opportunities for people of all ages. It occupies an 8,000-square-foot space at 551 Broadway, just one-half block south of the historic Sonoma Plaza. The Museum purchased the building in early 2001, and completed extensive renovations in March 2004. The Museum is open to the general public during exhibitions Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for individuals, $8 for families, and free to members.
