Beaux Arts and Lowe

The Beaux Arts Ball, held last fall, is one of several events held to benefit the Lowe Art Museum and art projects in the local community for underprivileged children.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (November 2013) – From Marie Antoinette poufs to Farrah Fawcett feathers to classic handlebars, more than 200 hair-inspired-costumed and black-tie revelers gathered on Saturday, November 9, to raise funds at the annual Beaux Arts Ball – this year, carrying a “Wig & Stache” theme.

Beaux Arts Ball 2013 Chair Amy Treese made sure that all “Wig & Stache Bash” guests were ready for hair-raising fun from the moment they entered the stache-tasticly decorated Coral Gables Country Club.

Beaux Arts President Kristen Munroe, along with Chair Amy Treese, welcomed guests, announced the raffle winners and paid homage to the longstanding organization, currently celebrating 62 years of service. The ballroom décor was a nod to iconic hair and mustache styles – with tables featuring both Lucite and colorful glitter wig forms topped with white foam wigs. Contemporary art as well as images of wigs and iconic hairstyles were awash in shades of blue, covering the walls and ceilings.

Miami’s longest-running costume ball drew brilliantly creative attire – including a group of “Great Gatsby” flappers and their dates from the Jazz Age, as well as Ron Burgundy from the movie Anchorman. Other creative costumes included a bedecked group of Geishas and Japanese warriors, as well as costumes representing iconic movie hair styles from Top Gun and Grease, and hair styles of rock stars such as ZZ Top and Kid Rock. The evening’s costume winners featured a group of 18th century Marie Antoinette-inspired ladies dressed in white pouf wigs escorted by a troupe of Amadeus Mozarts.

Following Beaux Arts Ball tradition, members presented skits including a rendition of “Rock Me Amadeus” performed by the evening’s costume winners, and a dance to “What Does the Fox Say?,” a popular YouTube video, which won first prize.

With signature Grey Goose Vodka cocktails flowing, the Beaux Arts Ball also featured an expansive silent auction and exciting raffles, with items including a two night stay and round of golf at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, South Carolina; a $2,500 Tory Burch shopping spree at Neiman Marcus Coral Gables; and a weekend Mercedes-Benz 350 convertible.

The Beaux Arts “Fund-a-Need” portion of the evening, emceed by Emmy-award winning journalist and Beaux Arts Member Cynthia Demos, raised over $10,000 that will go directly to fund the organization’s outreach programs that seek to reach artists and children in our community to enhance art and art education. These programs have achieved acquisitions of over 50 pieces of art donated to the Lowe Art Museum, inspired over 25,000 children at the Beaux Arts Art Camp and Classes, hosted over 5,000 students from underserved schools for a day of art education and hands on art projects, and supported artists and student artists with recognition and aid.

2013 Beaux Arts Ball sponsors for the event included Presenting Sponsors Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables and Cutler Bay and City National Bank, as well as Bermont Advisory Group of Raymond James, AON, Northern Trust, Lowell International Realty, FirstBank of Florida, The Haggard Law Firm, Hillary Littlejohn Scurtis Interior Design, TUUCI, Windhaven Insurance and USA Bouquet.

For décades Beaux Arts has promoted art and art appreciation throughout the region, and provides financial support for the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami. The nonprofit is also committed to operating programs year round that introduce area children to the various artistic disciplines. As part of Momentum2, Beaux Arts has pledged a total gift of $1.7 million to the Lowe Art Museum.

The 2013 Beaux Arts Ball Chair was Amy Treese, while over 40 women served on the committee – resulting in a successful evening for the Lowe.