Blanton Manager of Special Events, Stephanie Topolgus, takes a look back at some of the museum's more interesting events, and looks to the future with a new and improved B scene...
The Blanton's Special Events department has seen a lot since The Michener Gallery Building opened its doors in 2006. We have worked with everyone from high school whiz kids being recruited by UT, to fifty fashion runway models dressing in our back hallway, to Martha Stewart herself–with at least five of her stressed out assistants in tow! Everyone loves to party at The Blanton, and who can blame them? The museum is a beautiful and inspiring place to host an event, and it is an inspiring place to work as well.
One of my favorite experiences on the job was meeting a wonderful woman named Paige and her mother Carol. Paige was the first person to have a wedding ceremony in The Blanton's galleries. (We had just finished our first season of hosting wedding receptions, and had finally received approval to become a venue for ceremonies as well.) Paige was a UT art history grad marrying an adorable Austin musician from a Texas oil family, and both she and her fiancée had spent time in our galleries throughout college. I could just tell when I met Paige and her mother that they would be the right fit for a wedding ceremony in our modern and contemporary galleries. I led them through the museum to what would be the “altar,” describing along the way where I’d be hiding the bride and flower girls while ushers were meeting guests at the top of the grand staircase. As soon as we stepped foot into the vast open space of the sky-lit Huntington Gallery, with its large abstract expressionist works, Carol burst into tears and hugged me and Paige both. It was fantastic!
I too get overwhelmed with emotion and excitement sometimes when planning The Blanton’s special events. Not long ago in a meeting for the upcoming exhibition American Scenery – an exhibition of landscapes depicting the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York– I was so inspired that I could barely contain myself. I was thinking about the ferny, feathery, mini Hudson River Valley arrangements that our favorite florist would create as centerpieces for events around this exhibition. Yes, this behavior is sometimes met with rolled eyes, but I know the details are appreciated in the end!
In addition to all of the private events that we host on behalf of others, we also organize several signature public events as well. Perhaps the best known is B scene, our "art party" loved for its creative mix of live music and entertainment, cocktails, guided gallery tours, interactive art activities, and more – all programmed to a central theme. For me, this event is the most fun to conspire with colleagues and collaborators to create.
B scene has grown in popularity over the past few years, and in our 2011-2012 season, we are seriously going to blow it out! We will be moving the party to a quarterly format (October, December, March and June) in order to bring you even bigger and better entertainment. Not to be missed: our new Member Lounge, offering luxurious seating, a private bar, and complimentary light bites from our favorite restaurants and caterers – all overlooking the action from the museum’s mezzanine.
The Blanton Cafe is also getting into the action with a delicious new menu of small plates available throughout each B scene event. Make a night of it by having dinner in the cafe – be sure to pair your plates with a nice glass of wine – and then enjoy the art, music and other festivities at B scene.
As we go forth into The Blanton’s 50th Anniversary year, which will entail extreme event planning, some ask if we should take it easy and not try to constantly outdo ourselves. My answer is that my department is called Special Events – not Regular Events!
Image: Rapper Tee Double performs at the June 2011 B scene
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