Last Saturday evening, the University Art Museum celebrated the 30-year anniversary of its reopening with its Exquisite Collage event that doubled as a fundraiser.
In addition to a display of 20 paintings by Monty Montgomery of Cilli Designs, guests enjoyed four food themes, dancing and live music by DJ After Dark.
The event "was a kick-off celebration," event manager Mike Alexander said. "We're trying to raise awareness about the museum."
Alexander described the event as "very eclectic."
Exquisite Collage was selected as the theme for the event as a play on the title of the American Collage exhibit currently on display and as a way to pay tribute to the variety of different "people, artists and events" that have contributed to the development of the museum in the past 30 years, Alexander said.
University President John T. Casteen, III and his wife, Renee, were among distinguished guests at the Exquisite Collage anniversary celebration and fundraiser.
Corporate and private donors, including author John Grisham, sponsored the event. Tickets to the event were $75, and 250 guests were in attendance.
"Most everything was donated by corporate sponsors," said Tour and Rental Manager Deryn Goodwin.
A significant percentage of the ticket price will go right to the museum.
"The totals aren't in yet, but it was a very successful fundraiser," Alexander said.
Proceeds from the event will be used to maintain the museum, purchase new collections and run museum programs. Less than 50 percent of the museum's funding comes from U.Va., most of which is used for personnel. Alexander described the partnership between the community and University as "wonderful."
"Four U.Va. students volunteered at the event," Goodwin said.
Volunteers ran errands and even served as live models completely covered in body paint.
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