The Gala At MCASD
Celebrating Transformation
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla reopened in April after a four-year renovation led by Selldorf Architects. The expanded galleries and inaugural exhibitions were met with great acclaim. With soaring ceilings and ocean views, the newly expanded galleries provide a breathtaking setting for art and celebrations of all kinds.
This fall, the Museum will host The Gala @ MCASD, a fundraising benefit at the expanded La Jolla campus. Set for September 10, 2022, guests of The Gala will be the first to see the special exhibition Alexis Smith: The American Way in the Iris and Matthew Strauss Galleries at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Building.
MCASD’s annual fundraiser – Monte Carlo – has been reimagined into The Gala @ MCASD, which will celebrate the special exhibition each fall. This year’s event takes inspiration from the pivotal Alexis Smith exhibition, the first retrospective of the California artist in over thirty years, reflecting a theme that MCASD and artists share: transformation.
The Gala @ MCASD, like Monte Carlos of the past, will be a night filled with elegance, surprise and intrigue, mixing old Hollywood allure with a new twist. Co-chaired by Board Members Marcos Ramírez ERRE and Dagmar Smek, this special evening promises to be filled with moments of glamour and wonder as guests are invited into the atmosphere inspired by Smith. The evening will celebrate the power and beauty of contemporary art and delight the senses as guests dine al fresco in the ocean view Art Park.
The Museum will continue the celebration with The After Party @ MCASD, reopening Alexis Smith: The American Way and the Collection galleries for viewing by After Party guests and featuring a variety of unique activations throughout the building, including live music, dancing, surprise entertainment, hosted specialty cocktails and indulgent late-night snacks.
While the evening promises to be magical, it is also vital as it raises funds allowing the Museum to make an impact within the Museum walls and in the broader community. All proceeds from the event benefit MCASD’s dynamic exhibition schedule and education programs that foster conversations and connect visitors to contemporary art. Community members can look forward to special programs such as:
Free Third Thursday – The Museum is open late on the Third Thursday of each month and invites the community in for a deeper exploration of the galleries with guided tours, art-making activities, and programming that offers greater context and connection to the exhibitions.
Teen Advisory Group – The Museum’s teen programming that engages a diverse group of teens from across San Diego County. Teens learn about the Museum as a site of citizen participation, education, and exploration of social issues through the lens of contemporary art.
Family ArtLabs – Families with children of all ages, engage in conversation-based explorations of artworks, followed by inspired art-making experiences.
Prebys Play Days – Monthly family programming geared towards multigenerational participants, including free admission, special tours, hands-on art-making activities, accessible food programs, transportation and more.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.mcasd.org/gala.
