Press RoomArizona Costume Institute 2018 Holiday Luncheon featured legendary designer, raised funds for Phoenix Art Museum
Arizona Costume Institute 2018 Holiday Luncheon featured legendary designer, raised funds for Phoenix Art Museum
Dec, 14, 2018
Special Events and Programs
Arizona Costume Institute 2018 Holiday Luncheon featured legendary designer, raised funds for Phoenix Art Museum
Iconic
milliner Stephen Jones headlined annual luncheon in support of fashion
exhibitions and programs at Museum
PHOENIX (December 14, 2018) – Arizona Costume Institute (ACI), an
affiliate group of Phoenix Art Museum, presented its 2018 Holiday Luncheon on
Monday, December 3, which featured renowned celebrity designer Stephen Jones as
its guest of honor and keynote speaker. A fundraiser in support of the fashion
design collection at the Museum, the 2018 ACI Holiday Luncheon was chaired by
Lynne Love and raised more than $100,000 in vital resources for the Museum.
“We are so grateful to both the board of Arizona Costume
Institute and its members for their ongoing generous support of Phoenix Art
Museum. Now entering the 52nd year of its history, Arizona Costume Institute
and its annual holiday luncheon play a crucial role in both the history and
future of the Museum and its fashion design program,” said Amada Cruz, the
Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “The members of the
luncheon’s planning committee truly devoted themselves to creating a beautiful
event, and their tireless efforts resulted in an infusion of generous support
for Phoenix Art Museum.”
Keynote speaker Stephen Jones, who has collaborated with
designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Thom Browne, and Christian Dior and whose
designs have graced the covers of Vogue
and have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, presented examples
of his work during the event and shared stories and exclusive insights into his
meteoric rise to success as one of the most innovative milliners and fashion
designers of our time. At the conclusion of the event, the British designer
signed copies of his recent book, Stephen
Jones: Souvenirs.
The event also honored Mary Ellen McKee, community
philanthropist and fashionista, who was recognized as the first-ever Honorary
Holiday Luncheon Chair in honor of her generous, longtime support of Arizona
Costume Institute and the fashion design program at Phoenix Art Museum. The
elegant annual luncheon featured a champagne reception, floral arrangements
created by Avant Garde, and cuisine provided by Santa Barbara Catering. The
event was made possible through the generous support of the Scottsdale-based luxury
consignment boutique To Be Continued.
Arizona Costume Institute is led by Luba Burns, who serves
as the organization’s president, along with a board composed of local Valley
community leaders and working professionals. The Museum’s fashion design program
has been led since 2000 by Dennita Sewell, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of
Fashion Design. The fashion collection is composed of more than 7,000 objects
of both historical and contemporary fashion. For more information about Arizona
Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.
Media
images with ID’s for the ACI 2018 Holiday Luncheon: download here.
About
Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix Art
Museum has provided access to visual arts and educational programs in Arizona
for nearly 60 years and is the largest art museum in the southwestern United
States. Critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions are shown
alongside the Museum’s permanent collection of more than 19,000 works of
American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and
contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents festivals, a
comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs
designed to enlighten, entertain, and stimulate visitors of all ages. Visitors
also enjoy vibrant photography exhibitions through the Museum’s landmark
partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To
learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.
About the Fashion Design Collection at
Phoenix Art Museum
Founded
in 1966, the fashion design collection of Phoenix Art Museum is notable for its
quality and comprehensiveness. More than 8,000 objects comprise the collection,
including American and European men’s, women’s, and children’s dress and accessories
dating from the late 17th century to the present. The Museum organizes two
exhibitions annually in the Kelly Ellman Fashion Design Gallery. Phoenix Art
Museum is one of only a handful of art museums in the country with a long and
continuously active fashion program.
About Arizona Costume Institute
The Arizona
Costume Institute was founded in 1966 to support the fashion design department
of Phoenix Art Museum in the acquisition and preservation
of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance. It also
promotes appreciation of fashion design through programs and support of the
Museum’s exhibitions. ACI’s support of this collection area depends on the
enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers to help maintain and expand the collection
and educational programs. To learn more about Arizona Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.
