ASPEN, CO.- On Friday, August 4, 2017, the Aspen Art Museum held its annual ArtCrush gala—raising over $2.8 million to benefit the museum’s impressive educational and curatorial programming throughout the year. This year’s ArtCrush returned to its iconic home at the Buttermilk Ski Area, internationally known as the marquee location for the annual ESPN Winter X Games and marking a continued collaboration with the AAM’s long-time community business partner, Aspen Skiing Company. More than 600 of the world’s most distinguished and influential art collectors, artists, gallerists, museum professionals, and business leaders gathered in Aspen to participate in the museum’s signature multi-day series of events. The week culminated with Friday evening’s ArtCrush Live and Silent Auction—followed by a night of music and dancing for AfterPartyCrush, held at Aspen’s Belly Up nightclub.

On the evening of Tuesday, August 1, the museum kicked off the week’s festivities with a rooftop lecture featuring Nancy and Bob Magoon CEO and Director, Heidi Zuckerman, in conversation with 2017 Aspen Award for Art honoree, Lawrence Weiner as part of AAM’s Summer Artist Lecture Series. Over the span of a nearly sixty- year-career, Weiner’s artistic output has taken on many aspects, including his many large-scale, text-based works. His pioneering practice is based on the idea that an artist can harness any material and present it as art without disrupting its everyday context. Since the seventies, Weiner has used language as a sculptural material and is widely known for striking wall “sculptures” made using paint and vinyl that present provocative texts that remain open to interpretation. As a concluding sentiment, Weiner imparted, “Making art makes you a better person.”

Guests were encouraged to enjoy a light fare and refreshments at a cocktail reception following the lecture, a welcome opportunity to experience artworks by Wade Guyton and Peter Fischli, mounted on the museum’s Roof Deck Sculpture Garden as part of the museum-wide Wade Guyton Peter Fischli David Weiss exhibition (June 22 – November 26, 2017).

The official ArtCrush festivities kicked off on Wednesday evening, with WineCrush— the private cocktail and dinner party hosted by AAM supporter, National Council Member, and Event Chair, Amy Phelan and her husband, John. Guests enjoyed Dom Perignon during the cocktail reception amidst the Phelan’s notable art collection, which boasts works by blue-chip masters such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ellsworth Kelly, Takashi Murakami, Damien Hirst, Marilyn Minter, and Jenny Holzer.

Upon proceeding to a seated dinner—housed within a festive dinner tent constructed atop the Phelan’s pool—guests were welcomed by a vibrant Marrakesh-inspired décor package featuring metallic filigreed lanterns, chandeliers of handmade tassels, and candles floating within elevated water basins. Live belly dancers and miniature hookahs underscored the evening’s theme. The evening’s host, AAM board Co-president John Phelan imparted his gratitude for the evening’s presenting sponsor, Sotheby’s, and sponsors Audi, Dom Perignon, Flexjet, JP Morgan, Southern Wine and Spirits, and W Magazine ending with a nod to Aspen Award for Art honoree Lawrence Weiner. AAM Nancy and Bob Magoon CEO and Director, Heidi Zuckerman, echoed his sentiments, imparting her gratitude for guests’ generous support of the museum and continued dedication to AAM’s curatorial and programmatic excellence.

As the first course of shrimp bisque, grilled prawns, and fried pickled cucumber appeared on guests’ plates, Master Sommelier Jay Fletcher took to the stage with his court of fellow sommeliers from Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits to introduce the evening’s prestigious wine flight. Fletcher emphasized that the evening’s multi-course meal was unique in that the food was paired to the wine, reversing the customary wine-to-food pairing. After indulging in a multi-course meal of braised veal cheek, tenderloin Rossini, and a pistachio parfait dessert—paired to notable Domaine De Chevalier Blanc, Chateau Pichon Baron, and Chateau D’Yquem wines—guests were ushered to the dance floor by chart-topping hits mixed by DJ Dylan.

PreviewCrush, on Thursday, August 3, was held at Baldwin Gallery, hosted by gallery owner and AAM National Council member Richard Edwards, allowing guests to preview the Silent and Live Auction works included in Friday evening’s ArtCrush event. For the fifth year in a row, Casterline|Goodman Gallery hosted PreviewExtra, which included additional works included in the ArtCrush auction. Both PreviewCrush and PreviewExtra events offered guests a unique opportunity to view a wide selection of the singular, sought-after artworks included in the following evening’s ArtCrush Silent and Live Auctions.

This year’s ArtCrush gala was inspired by Lawrence Weiner’s donated artwork and Colorado’s hot air balloon culture. Upon arrival at the Buttermilk Ski Area, guests were greeted by miniature hot air balloons rendered in primary colors, with nearly one hundred paper lanterns illuminated by votive candles suspended from the tent’s transparent ceiling. Master Sommelier Jay Fletcher rejoined his fellow sommeliers from Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits to offer curated wine tastings as guests made their final bids on Silent Auction artworks by Raymond Pettibon, Daniel Arsham, Zoe Crosher, and Marilyn Minter, among others. The Silent Auction was held in partnership with auction partners Paddle8.

Transitioning from cocktails to dinner, guests entered the ArtCrush Big Top tent with their Live Auction paddles in tow. ArtCrush event chair Amy Phelan imparted introductory remarks, followed by a brief speech by Heidi Zuckerman, the Nancy and Bob Magoon CEO and Director of the Aspen Art Museum, who greeted the room with warm remarks about the museum’s recent prestigious recognition—the National Medal for Museum and Library Services—which was bestowed upon AAM this spring. The museum was one of ten distinguished institutions that, of the 35,000 museums and libraries nationwide, received the award for 2017.

Following Zuckerman’s speech, the major highlight of the main Friday evening ArtCrush event was the annual presentation of the Aspen Award for Art to 2017 honoree, Lawrence Weiner. “Candidates for the award are not just those who have devoted their lives to a laudable career, but also those who have activated passion through their contributions to our community.” says Zuckerman. She concludes, “Working around the world, Lawrence is perhaps the most democratic artist working today. Thank you for sharing your art and your humanity with us, and always doing so with an inherent dignity.” Weiner graciously received the honor, conveying, “May I honestly say—this is nice. I am 75 years old, and I am a very lucky person. Art is made by people for other people. The whole point is that art is about making it public. I’m not a holiday person, but please do party. That would be the greatest—better than any applause for me.”

Following their remarks, for the sixth consecutive year, Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s Senior International Specialist, Contemporary Art took to the stage for the evening’s Live Auction to offer works by Ed Ruscha, John Giorno, George Condo, and Fischli/Weiss, among others. Guests witnessed competitive bidding wars for sought-after lots, with George Condo’s Portrait with Red Ink, 2017 and Ed Ruscha’s Fussy Facts, 2014, hammering-in well-above estimate at $130,000 and $115,000, respectively. Concrete Landscape, 2017, a sculpture by Peter Fischli/David Weiss—currently on view as part of AAM’s museum-wide collaborative exhibition—hammered in at an impressive $230,000.

The Live Auction culminated with Lawrence Weiner’s, presented to eager bidders as a vinyl superimposed atop a monumental presentation board. Guests eagerly competed for Weiner’s certificate, which offers collectors the right to replicate the work in any color, size, and medium per his succinct guiding principle:

1. The artist may construct the piece.
2. The piece may be fabricated.
3. The piece need not be built.

Bidding culminated at an astounding $450,000. In total, the evening amassed a remarkable $2.8 million for the AAM, with special thanks to a private donation offered by Wade Guyton, who was not present at the event.

As the Live Auction and dinner concluded, guests made their way from the dinner tent to dessert stations featuring crepes and macaroons, and then onto shuttles transporting them to the evening’s celebratory finale—AfterPartyCrush held in partnership with Aspen’s BellyUp nightclub. Guests celebrated to until the early morning hours with a fantastic DJ-set mixed by DJ Eve Salvail.