DALLAS, October 29, 2007—amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, actor Stanley Tucci, and international queen of burlesque Dita Von Teese joined the Dallas community on Saturday, October 27 to help raise more than $3.2 million for amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art at the ninth annual Two by Two for AIDS and Art black-tie dinner and art auction.The benefit, sponsored by Aston Martin of Dallas, Dom Pérignon, Harry Winston, Nassiri Music, and Sotheby’s, was once again hosted by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky at the Richard Meier-designed Rachofsky House. The evening was co-chaired by Jennifer Eagle and Catherine Rose.
The event included cocktails and the silent auction inside, followed by dinner, the live auction, and the Last Look after-party in a tent outside. There were 130 pieces of contemporary art and luxury items featured in the event’s auctions. Jamie Niven, vice chairman of Sotheby’s, conducted the live auction, highlights of which included a painting by Elizabeth Peyton, selling for $450,000, and a Harry Winston ebony and diamond bangle watch, which sold for $35,000.
Following the live auction, the tent was transformed into a swanky late-night lounge for the Last Look after-party, sponsored by Aston Martin, Dom Pérignon, and Neiman Marcus. Dita Von Teese took to the stage in a glittering red outfit to perform the Texas debut of her racy burlesque act “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” With the encouragement of Stanley Tucci and Kenneth Cole, who each put up an initial $5,000, guests bid a total of $70,000 to see a second Von Teese performance. Ms. Von Teese closed out the evening with her acclaimed martini glass routine.
As part of the fundraising weekend in Dallas, Elizabeth Peyton was honored with amfAR’s Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS at a brunch hosted by Jennifer and John Eagle and sponsored by Citi on Sunday, October 28. amfAR trustee Richard Metzner presented Ms. Peyton with the award.
amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested $260 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.
The Dallas Museum of Art, established in 1903, has an encyclopedic collection of more than 23,000 works spanning 5,000 years of history and representing all media, with renowned strengths in the arts of the ancient Americas, Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia; European and American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; and American and international contemporary art. Revenues from Two by Two are directed by the Museum to its Contemporary Art Acquisition Fund.
amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art recognize and thank American Airlines for its commitment to the fight against AIDS and its generous support of amfAR’s mission as well as its continued devotion to the DMA.
