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An Evening with Fabulous Friends More
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Vanessa Ketcham and Sam Azar, co-chairs of the annual gala to benefit The Mennello Museum of American Art, are very excited about a new element to the festivities.
he inaugural Mennello Museum Invitational is a group
The Friends of The Mennello Museum of American Art hosts
exhibition at the museum that highlights new work by
this elegant gala to raise funds for the museum’s collections, exhi-
contemporary regional artists whose work enriches life in
bitions, programs and the Honorable Marilyn Logsdon Mennello
Central Florida. These local artists who call Orlando
Fund. The 14th annual event will honor Orlando Mayor Buddy
home will be able to
introduce their work to a broader audience and encourage collecting art on a local level. The
Dyer. Sam Azar and Vanessa Ketcham
Vanessa, who has chaired and been involved with a number of community galas, initially got
exhibition in The Museum’s
involved because she was look-
Marilyn Gallery, February 14 –
ing for something new. “I like
March 3, features new works by
the passion that Michael [Men-
Victor Bokas, Shosh C, Mindy
nello] expresses and I wanted to
Colton, Nancy Jay, Richard
be part of that. To be that pas-
Munster, Jackie Otto Miller, Vic-
sionate about something makes
tor Quino, Maria Ramos, Paul T.
you want to be passionate about
Scarborough and Katty Smith.
other things in life. I always felt
“We love that we are giving
you can do more for your com-
local artists an opportunity to
munity, and the arts are still
share their passions and give
somewhat of an unknown trea-
them a platform to showcase
sure,” she says.
what they do,” Vanessa says.
Sam has only been involved
“We will have paintings, sculp-
for a few years but echoes those
tures — and really bring the
sentiments. “Over the past few
community together,” Sam adds.
years we have really brought
“I love what we do here. There is
culture to the event. We have
something for everybody.” They
taken it from a gala to an artistic
both feel this outreach effort, as
evening. But it’s also a lot of fun
well as special events and edu-
— we have a band, we have dif-
cational programs, makes The
ferent performers and we bring
Mennello much more than just
in art,” he says.
a museum.
An Evening with Fabulous
After the museum showing,
Friends Gala includes a recep-
the art will be on display at An
tion, auction, dinner and enter-
Evening with Fabulous Friends
tainment. For additional infor-
Gala, Saturday, March 4, at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at
mation and to purchase tables or tickets, contact Annelizabeth
Walt Disney World Resort. Each year, the ArtEvents Council of
Atie at 407-246-4860.
22
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