Nearly 200 guests, most in costume, crammed into the Penticton Art Gallery last night for the facility's most important and definitely busiest fundraiser of the year.
The event whisked attendees back to the roaring 20s, when flappers and gangsters vied for attention and prohibition meant good hooch was available only at underground bars called speakeasies.
It was only fitting than that the evening was dubbed Speakeasy 2019.
The obvious focus of the evening was the auction itself, where curator Paul Crawford played the role of auctioneer and 200-plus pieces of art were on the block. And Crawford was feeling the vibe beforehand.
"It's a fantastic night. We got great response to our online component. I hope it's more to do with our art than our misfortunes lately (the gallery has been a recent and frequent target of thieves), but whatever it takes. We're sold right out, which we haven't had for a couple of years, and it's a wonderfully positive experience."
Guest were handed a cocktail and serenaded by jazz combo Sax Among Friends the moment they walked in the door, and were later treated to a full-on banquet courtesy of "Chef in Stead" catering. Many came back for seconds. And thirds.
And then the auction was ready to begin. Except Crawford and Co. had one other surprise - a flash mob of flapper dancers. The music began, and a bevy of flappers, positioned strategically throughout the room, got up and did their thing. The applause afterward was deservedly loud and long.
Avid art fans Frank and Liz Malinka were there, said Frank, "to enjoy and appreciate the Penticton Art Gallery. We love the work it does for the youth in Penticton. The arts are a really important part of our life, and it's solid that the gallery supports all kind of youth programs."
Sitting just a couple tables away were the nattily attired Fergy and Randy Foster of The Nest & Nectar and Skaha Marina's Nautical Dog restaurants. "We're huge supporters of the arts anywhere in the world," said Fergy. "All kinds of art. Theatre art. Paintings. And one of the reasons we're here tonight is to get some art for our home and restaurants."
"We have a few pieces in mind already," she said, pointing out several diverse works in the auction catalogue.
Ed Schneider of Many Hats Theatre Company sat with an entire table of Many Hatters. "Our executive producer Eric Hanston is also the president of the gallery, so we often come to these events."
Then Schneider and architect Cal Meiklejohn got into enthusiastic discussion about the evening's meal - and in particular the rib roast, which they both agreed was to die for.
Final figures aren't yet available, but judging by the turnout and the bidding action when the auction finally did get going, it looked to be a very good evening indeed for the Penticton Art Gallery.
