FARGO — The Plains Art Museum’s annual Spring Gala is always a vibrant event, but this year the organization is saturating its building and interiors in bold hues for the “Color Flings” theme.
“The color theme lends itself to such a vibrant event,” said Christy Tehven, one of this year’s co-chairs with her husband, Greg and another couple, Laura and Austin Morris.
The gala will be held the evening of May 3.
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“It’s a very simple theme, but not one we’ve never done before,” said Megan Even, director of development at the museum. “Wear your boldest, brightest colors. It’s easy to interpret.”
Themes for the event are often tied to a major exhibit at the time. This year is a nod to
Anne Labovitz’s celebration of color in, “Convergence: Health & Creativity.”
The energetic show is centered in the third floor gallery with floor-to-ceiling tapestries, but her dynamic sheets of color give new life to the building, flowing from the skylight down through the atrium, hanging just above heads on the main floor.
The lively works will sway above the band, Low Standards, as it plays later that night.
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The event has special significance for the Tehvens, who had their first date at the 2014 Gala. Since then, Christy can’t recall missing one.
She and her company, Love Always Floral, have participated in at least five Galas, creating colorful arrangements and spaces.
“As a creative company, we love being part of this event,” she said.
“It’s a fun event for some vendors who don’t always have creative such freedom,” Even said.
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She pointed out that the main caterer, Chef’s Table Catering, will take a similar color blocking approach to arrange its spread.
“It will be a rainbow of foods,” she said.
Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café will again supply sweets and Happy Harry’s will be back for a wine sampling to kick the night off.
“We’re a contemporary art museum with a focus on visual art, but with this event we’ll have something for all of the senses with flowers, great food, music and lights and so many creative expressions,” Even said.
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One of Tehven’s favorite Galas was the Wonderland theme in 2023 when she hand-dipped white roses in red paint and decked out chairs and teacups she bought at thrift stores.
“That was a fun theme,” she said.
This year she’s working on a floral entrance as guests arrive and focusing on creating masses of color to set a bold tone. She’ll use roses, delphiniums and other long-stemmed varieties and suspend them near Labovitz’s hanging art.
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“We’re focused on doing more color blocking to create something really colorful and vibrant to complement Anne’s art,” she said.
Labovitz will return to the Plains for the event.
Fans of Labovitz’s work can take a piece home as she donated an acrylic painting to the Gala auction. Valued at $4,200, bidding starts at $3,150, with the museum getting 100 percent of the proceeds.
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Most of the 90 other art items are split 50/50 with proceeds going equally to the artist and the Plains.
While Labovitz’s piece may have one of the higher starting points, Even points out that many start under $100.
“We have a variety of price points. We’re trying to make it so people at different levels of art collecting can find something,” Even said.
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Tehven said she and her husband love coming home with a piece of art from the auction. Still, one of her favorite parts of the night is leaving it all on the dance floor.
“I love the band and getting to dance. How often as an adult do you get to dress up with your friends and dance? I just love getting together,” Tehven said. “I’m excited. It’s such a fun event.”
What: Plains Art Gala
When: 7 to 11:45 p.m., Saturday, May 3
Where: Plains Art Museum
If you go: There is no dress code, though colorful attire is suggested. Tickets are $150.
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