On Saturday, November 20, YoungArts welcomed artists, community leaders, cultural partners and donors for the organization’s 40th Birthday Party celebrating the uplifting, regenerative community of artists that the organization has supported since 1981.
Hosted at the iconic YoungArts Campus, the evening started with a festive cocktail hour on the YoungArts Plaza and then transitioned to an intimate seated dinner inside the Jewel Box with a menu of Wahoo Avocado Mosaic and Ariete Shortrib, designed by Miami chef Michael Beltran. Themed “40 Years for Artists,” the birthday party highlighted past YoungArts winners across disciplines and generations, and the organization’s history of and continued commitment to supporting artists throughout their careers.
A highlight of the evening was a performance by 1983 YoungArts award winner Queen Esther and her orchestra, who presented renditions of the Billlie Holiday standards “Big Stuff,” If the Moon Turns Green” and “Blow Blossoms.”
The celebration culminated with dessert and a birthday toast that recognized the monumental occasion dedicated to celebrating artists and their impact on society. Notable Guests included Louis Aguirre and Matt MacDonald, Arthur Baker, Adriana Cisneros and Nick Griffin, Darlene and Jorge M. Pérez, Aaron and Dorothy Podhurst, Toni Randall, Oti and Remi Roberts, and Craig Robins and Jackie Soffer; local arts leaders Alex Gartenfeld, Rosie Gordon-Wallace, Sam Hyken, Jaie Laplante, Cathy Leff, Franklin Sirmans and Mikhaile Solomon; and artists Germane Barnes, Robert Chambers, Naomi Fisher, Simon Haas, Rosie Herrera, Loni Johnson, José Parlá and Chire Regans.
