Preview Party

This weekend I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Women’s Board Preview Party at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  This is an elite catered event held on all three levels of PAFA’s museum, showcasing the graduating student’s artwork available for purchase.  Tickets for this event can be up to $1,000, so everyone who paid to attend was dressed to the nines and looking seriously at buying some art.   It was delightful surveying the guests and graduates in all their finery.  For me, I chose a vintage taffetta grey and purple floral silk dress, that as one person put it “looks right out of the Parent Trap era.”  This was a lucky find for me at a thrift store last summer–I finally had something fancy enough to wear it to!

Along with the other volunteers, I was labeled with a nametag “Sales Associate” and assigned a section to assist in.  I met many interesting people that night, and was able to assist in the sales of several friends’ paintings.  Having worked in sales, I really enjoyed the chance to sell a product (art) that I am so passionate about.  My favorite part was introducing the artist to a potential collector.

All in all, it was a lovely and exciting evening, although bittersweet to see such fine artists graduate.  Next year, it will be me along with all the other MFA 2’s standing beside out work, hoping for sales.  Until then, it’s back to the easel.

Artists Jessica Libor, Julianne Kelly, Holly Colagori at the Women’s Preview Party at PAFA 2013