On Saturday evening (March 15), the 2014 CalArts’ REDCAT Gala honored legendary music and visual artist and philanthropist Herb Alpert, while also raising more than $600,000 for REDCAT’s distinctive cultural programming.
The evening featured a performance installation by Pablo Bronstein in the gallery, including solo dances by Jos McKain and Rebecca Bruno. Members of the CalArts’ New Millenium Brass Ensemble heralded the start of dinner as guests entered the theater space, which was transformed into a grand dining hall featuring a large, three-dimensinoal art installation created by artists and architects Frank Escher and Ravi GuneWardena of Escher GuneWardena. The gala’s guests were also treated to a post-dinner performance by Alpert, Grammy Award-winning singer Lani Hall and their band, who played an hour-long set.
Emmy Award-winning actor James Cromwell served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, welcoming guests and thanking event co-chairs Maria Arena Bell, Neda and Tim Disney, Jamie and Michael Lynton, and Malissa and Bobby Shriver.
Cromwell introduced CalArts President Steven Lavine, who presented the REDCAT Award to Alpert. Designed by architect Frank Gehry and fabricated by Tiffany & Co., the award celebrates the spirit of innovation and the transformation of ideas through creative acts.
During his acceptance remarks, Alpert acknowledged the special 20-year partnership between the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts and CalArts, which has led to financial and creative support for more than 100 mid-career, risk-taking artists in the fields of dance, film/video, music, theater and visual arts.
In addition to his contributions to the arts through his namesake award, Alpert has awarded CalArts approximately $30 million in grants to support various projects and programs—from endowments for both The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts and CAP (CalArts Community Arts Partnership) to the building of an on-campus recording studio.
He also took a moment at the gala to announce and congratulate the 2014 recipients of this year’s Herb Alpert Award: experimental documentary film maker Deborah Stratman (Film/Video); composer/avant-garde saxophonist/sound artist Matana Roberts (Music); theater artist Annie Dorsen (Theatre); post-conceptual artist Daniel Joseph Martinez (Visual Arts) and tap dance choreographer Michelle Dorrance (Dance).
The music, dancing and festivities continued into the night at the Gala After Party, celebrating Alpert, CalArts and REDCAT.