Faena Art hosted a fundraising Gala on October 29th, attracting record attendance at the Faena Forum Miami Beach in the sunshine state of Florida. The extraordinary event, which showcased a charity auction, live entertainment, multiple chef-prepared hors d’oeuvres, and an immersive installation by Artist Manuel Ameztoy, was the first-ever gala for the organization.

Open to the public, lovers of the arts and notable personalities of the fashion, film and music industries from all over the world descended to Miami Beach for the evening’s festivities. Some of the night’s most notable names included renowned art collector and hotelier Alan Faena himself, American record producers and businessmen, Swiss Beatz and Timbaland, American author and auctioneer Lydia Fenet of Christie's, Artists Rachel Hovnanian and Carlos Betancourt, and many more were in attendance.

Gala supporters had the ability to choose between an onsite experience and a virtual option to participate in the Christie’s auction which featured the works of over 20 remarkable artists. With the sale of these artworks, part of the proceeds raised will be allocated to the environmental projects The Path of the Panther and the Bridge Initiative’s Reefline.

The Faena Forum, designed by the famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, was adorned with the native leaves of the tropical state of Florida, keeping to the night’s theme “A Night Inspired by Florida’s Wildlife.” The guests were asked to dress using their favored native species of the state as inspiration. The winner crowned as best dressed of the night won a two-night stay in the luxurious Faena Hotel Penthouse suite.

Within the walls of the venue, the works of Argentinian artist Manuel Ameztoy were on full display. Commissioned by Faena Art, Ameztoy’s installation titled Paraísos Desplegables (Pop-up Paradises), Swiss Beatz and Timbaland showcased numerous pieces, some that reached nearly 640sq.m, consisting of hand-cut textiles and paper on a monumental scale. The intricately cut and woven materials hung from the ceiling of the Forum, imitating a natural landscape that coexists with real environments inspired by his’s native home of Entre Ríos, Argentina.

The Faena Art Gala was a precursor of sorts to the more traditional art fairs that are scheduled for December 2021 in the city of Miami, Florida. Those events include the notorious Design Miami/, UNTITLED Miami Beach, and the world renowned Art Basel (Miami Beach location), to name but a few.

With the continued presence of Covid-19, the Art Basel Committee issued the following statement on their website regarding their Miami Beach show:

“The health and safety of visitors and participants is Art Basel's utmost priority, and the fair is working closely with the relevant authorities and following international public health recommendations to ensure a safe show come December. To better control the occupancy of the halls, only a limited number of tickets will be sold.”

As new Covid-19 variants present themselves, it begs the question, what does the future hold for art curation and its acceptability? Will this be the fall of such beloved social gatherings, or will new and innovative approaches arise to keep to Faena Arts’s goal of democratization. Only the future will tell.