Tabletop Tuesday // TWO x TWO Gala 2013

A mixture of white Chloe goblets with Onyx and Stella black stemware on black + white striped linens from POSH Couture Rentals. Design by Todd Events. Image courtesy of Roderick Pena Photography

What an honor to be a part of the 15th annual benefit dinner and art auction for TWOxTWO for Aids, benefiting amFAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and The Dallas Museum of Art. Hosted by Howard and Cindy Rachofsky in their Richard Meier-designed home, The Rachofsky House, the charity event of the year included a who's who of national accord as well as the top event producers in States. Todd Fiscus of Todd Events  pulled out all of the stops, with a European-constructed dome for guests, a wall of black and white photographs from years past, and a scrumptious menu from Cassandra Fine Catering. Guests included Dallas philanthropists (Nancy C. Rogers, Deedie Rose, Tina Craig, Nasiba Adilova, and the fashion darlings of the world (DVF, Derek Lam) and art enthusiasts (Maxwell Anderson, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld ). A live auction was conducted by Jamie Niven, Chairman, and Sotheby’s, North and South America. The event raised over $5 million in one night, bringing their total contribution over the past fifteen years to be over $45 million. 

Alternating tables of white and black chiavari chairs and specialty stemware set the stage for a celebratory charity dinner. Roderick Pena Photography.

White Chiavari Chairs, Artesian Flatware, Onyx Stemware, Black and White Chloe Goblets, Pure Stemware, all POSH.   Roderick Pena Photography

We find it fitting that Todd picked an elegant mixture of black and white stemware for an evening celebrating a cause that should be black and white - helping make AIDS history and honoring the art that inspires and teaches us all. Congrats to all of those involved in this magnificent night and a huge shout out to the sponsors. Read more about the event here, like TWOxTWO on facebook, and see Vogue's coverage of the event.

Clockwise from top left: Dinner guests toast the evening with crystal champagne coups. The dome constructed by Todd Events. Howard and Cindy Rachofsky play host to the gala of the year. Photographed by Kevin Tachman for Vogue.

 

billet-doux: The Chagall Collection

 

The beautiful and colorful imagery of Marc Chagall in The Chagall Collection by Bernardaud, currently available at the Dallas Museum of Art. Image courtesy of the DMA.

We are having a serious love affair with Bernardaud’s tabletop pieces entitled The Chagall Collection. The art of setting a table is taken literally with Limoges porcelain pieces depicting the Russian-born and French artist's work. Marc Chagall was known for his colorful painting, sculptures, and even costumes, especially in France. What we wouldn't give to see a full tablescape built around these gorgeous pieces of art. To see these beauties in person, get thee to the Dallas Museum of Art. Not to toot our own horns, but Dallas is the only U.S. city featuring Chagall's work then it's all back to France. To read more about this fantastic exhibit entitled Chagall: Beyond Color, co-organized by La Piscine Museum, Roubaix, France, and the DMA (and exclusively in these two cities)  visit here. 

Marc Chagall, Costume for a Clown (Aleko Scene II), 1942, Private collection, Paris © Archives Marc et Ida Chagall. © 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris

Marc Chagall, Model for the curtain "The Firebird", The Enchanted Forest, 1945, Private collection, © Archives Marc et Ida Chagall. © 2012 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris

Marc Chagall, Between Darkness and Night, 1943, oil on canvas, private collection;  © 2013 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris