On November 12, AFMO hosted a sold-out crowd for its first annual Founders’ gala.  Celebrating the birth of American Friends Musée d’Orsay, more than 300 guests and patrons from across the United States and Europe turned out in support of AFMO and the museum.  Welcomed by AFMO board co-chairs Susan and Peter J. Solomon and Musée d’Orsay president Guy Cogeval, guests spent the evening exploring the galleries and sipping champagne with the dramatic Grand Horloge and Paris skyline as the background. 

 

 

 

Eight curators—Catherine Chevillot, Thomas Galifot, Stéphane Guégan, Isabelle Julia, Anne Pingeot, Xavier Rey, Anne Roquebert, and Philippe Saunier—joined the evening to present featured works in the newly renovated galleries and answer questions from guests.  The night continued with a champagne dînatoire catered by the renowned Dalloyau in the new Café Campana. On the menu were bite-size delectables and Jean Charles Boisset champagne.  Christie’s sponsored the evening and Boisset Family Estates (wineries in Napa Valley and across France) provided the wines.

 

 During the party, guests became artists as they contributed to a 14’ chocolate masterpiece by Eat-the-Paint’s Mark Alsterlind.  With paint brushes dripping with chocolate paint, guests eagerly added to the American artist’s sketch depicting a panorama of Paris. Before midnight, the giant fresco was cut into colorful chocolate bars, so everyone could take home an edible souvenir. Making sure to hit all the senses, music by the jazz trio Cakewalk Babies helped to create a lively atmosphere.  Guests lingered until the clock struck twelve, departing into a “midnight in Paris.”