The 4th Annual gala at 800Main this past Saturday pulled out all the stops in creating a nexus for young leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators to engage in supporting a humanitarian cause, while being able to expand their art collection and have some fun too. Collaborators PADDLE8 and TAPPAN Collective plus over 250 artists’ donations pulled all the right strings for the cause: UNICEF’s child protection work in Mexico aiding migrant children.

Phoebe Tillem in live-paint session

The evening was infectious with enticing art for all of the senses: the handsome architecture of 800Main, DJ and rooftop bar, live-paint session by Phoebe Tillem and aerialist dancer Whitney Kirk dangling over the cerulean-lite pool in the background. Sprinkled amid the crowd were artists Matthew Hoffman, Laurel Manette, Ann Hoffman, Francesca Quintana, Devendra Banhart whose works were included in the auction. Producer Nev Schulman of the documentary and MTV series, Catfish, made a showing also.

Main floor of 800Main

Two floors of 16 walls comprised still lifes, fine-art photography, watercolor, abstract paintings—all ranging in a multitude of forms and expressions. Earlier into the event a majority of the pieces already had closed bids making an onslaught of buzz around, those eager to find what had not been purchased that night. First-choice works by Gray Malin and Ed Ruscha were quickly snatched. The frantic movement of the crowd was palpable and persisted throughout the evening. The only question I had was, Who were the art handlers? I saw one attendee with a piece of unwrapped art slung over his shoulder digging in his pocket for proof of purchase; another took a framed piece of work right off the wall without recourse! At times I had bits of confusion as to what was going on.

Pascal Shirley with his “Clouds over Del Mar”

But Pascal Shirley‘s Clouds over Del Mar —a photograph that was taken in a hot air balloon over San Diego capturing ethereal cotton-candy clouds—provided a lighthearted escapism with its heavenly qualities. I was quickly reminded of the underlying mission of helping children in Mexico, which made the event a success in every way.

Photos by Moj Mehr-Assa