Beyond Baroque Celebrates 55th Anniversary!
Thank you again to all who joined us on Saturday, October 21, for The Beyond Gala.
It was a landmark event celebrating Beyond Baroque's 55th anniversary!
Video Recap
The Beyond Gala
More than 250 people packed Playa Studios in Culver City to join the community in celebration at The Beyond Gala. Guests entered through the pop-up bookstore, struck a pose at our first-ever step-and-repeat, and answered a poetry prompt about Beyond Baroque. Listening to jazz by the Theo Saunders Trio, the crowd perused our silent auction, featuring exceptional literary and entertainment experiences and items, as well as works from more than 40 significant artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Beatriz Cortez, Alex Donis, Salomón Huerta, and Alison Saar, and sipped on cocktails from NEFT Vodka and wines by POC-owned labels from NOIRE Wine Lounge.
Awards Program
The gala’s talented Emcee and Beyond Baroque alumna Vanessa Estelle Williams started off the awards program with a powerful poem, while guests enjoyed a delicious dinner catered by Chef Marcel Cocet. City Council representative Traci Park presented Beyond Baroque and Executive Director Quentin Ring with a certificate in honor of our 55th anniversary and impact on the City of Los Angeles, especially Venice, signed by all City Councilmembers and Mayor Karen Bass. We then honored Jim Krusoe, Bob Branaman, Hiram Sims, Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo, Amy Gerstler, and Lynne Thompson with their 2023 Beyond Baroque Awards. Ed Ruscha accepted by video and 2022 Amanda Gorman Future Voice Poetry Prize winner Simone Wesley read an original poem and accepted Amanda Gorman’s Special Recognition Award from Beyond Baroque on behalf of Gorman. Poet bridgette bianca performed a moving, collaborative collage poem that she created on the spot. Her poem commemorated Beyond Baroque’s 55th anniversary and The Beyond Gala, incorporating prompt responses gathered earlier from gala guests. Before the final awards, singers-songwriters Tom Freund + Victoria Williams performed a headline set.
Photo Galleries
Arrivals | Gala
