Dodgers win adds excitement to star-studded arts and film gala at LACMA with Cynthia Erivo and George Lucas

When Los Angeles County Museum of Art director Michael Govan first stepped onto the podium at the star-studded 14th annual Art + Film Gala, the Dodgers were down one point to the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning of the final game of the World Series.

There was no giant screen in the massive tent where a lavish dinner was served Saturday night celebrating artist Mary Corse and director Ryan Coogler. Instead, guests dressed in gowns and tuxedos glanced at their phones propped up on tables and at the base of flower vases throughout the star-studded venue. This became evident when Miguel Rojas hit a tying home run in the top of the ninth inning and the entire room erupted in cheers.

When Jovan returned to the stage to begin the well-deserved tribute to the artist and director of the hour, the game was won, the wild cheering stopped, and the phones were respectfully put aside.

“Go Dodgers!” Govan said before joking that LACMA engineered the win on this special evening. The room was squeezed.

It made Los Angeles feel like the center of the universe for a few hours and was fitting for an event that brought together the city’s twin cultural pillars of art and film, creating a rare space where the two worlds mix and mingle in support of a shared vision to recognize Los Angeles’ countless contributions to the global cultural conversation.

“This is a celebration that can only happen in Los Angeles, where art, film and creativity are so deeply intertwined,” Govan said. “I always say this is the most creative place on Earth.”

The event raised a record $6.5 million to support the museum and its programs. Co-Chairs Leonardo DiCaprio and LACMA Trustee Eva Chow hosted a cocktail party and dinner that attracted celebrities including Dustin Hoffman, Cynthia Erivo, Cindy Crawford, Queen Latifah, Angela Bassett, Lourdes, Demi Moore, Hannah Einbender, Charlie Hunnam and Elle Fanning along with local elected officials and appointees including U.S. Rep. Sidney Kamlager-Duff (D-Los Angeles); Los Angeles County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Lindsey Horvath; Los Angeles Councilwoman Katie Yaroslavsky; West Hollywood Councilman John M. Erickson, and Christine Sakoda, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Sakoda said she thoroughly enjoyed the festivities “as a representative of Los Angeles’ incredibly diverse culture and how that speaks to our entire nation.”

A special mention of gratitude went out to past honorees who attended the ceremony including artists Mark Bradford, James Turrell, Katherine Opie, Betye Saar, Jodi Baca, George Lucas and Park Chan-wook. Leaders from several other local arts organizations also attended, including Hammer Museum Director Zoe Ryan; Director of the African American Museum of California, Cameron Shaw; and MOCA Interim Director Anne Goldstein.

In the background was LACMA’s new David Geffen Gallery, the 110,000-square-foot building designed by Peter Zumthor and scheduled to open in April as a new home for the museum’s 150,000-piece permanent collection.

“Every day I am in this small building behind an installation of thousands of works of art,” Govan said to cheers. “I can’t wait for people to rediscover our permanent collection, from old favorites to new collectibles. This is a tremendous gift to Los Angeles, and in addition to Los Angeles County and the public, I want to thank the person who brought us to this historic moment with his generosity, Mr. David Geffen.”

Geffen sat in a sea of ​​black ties and sparkling gowns, close to Disney CEO Bob Iger and DiCaprio — who were photographed earlier in the week attending Game 5 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Govan also paid special tribute to former LACMA Board of Directors co-chair Eileen Wynn, who died earlier this year and was one of the museum’s most enduring champions. Wayne contributed $50 million toward the new building, one of the first major gifts to support the effort. Govan noted that the northern half of the building will be called the Eileen Wynn Pavilion.

No mention was made of the fact that LACMA employees announced earlier in the week that they were forming a union, LACMA United, representing more than 300 workers from all departments, including curators, teachers, guest relations associates and others. One worker told the Times that there were no plans to demonstrate at the event, which raises much-needed funds for the museum.

The crowd sat in awe as guests of honor, Coors and Kugler, spoke humbly about their journeys in their art forms, with Govan introducing them as “artists whose remarkable works challenge us to see the world differently.”

The evening concluded with a spirited performance by Doja Cat on an outdoor stage in the shadow of the David Geffen galleries, lights surrounding her massive concrete belly like stars in the sky.

“It was a beautiful evening of community coming together around something that reminded us of our common humanity in a time when we needed it,” Yaroslavsky said with a smile as the evening ended.