The annual gala featured comics Steve Martin and Martin Short on Feb. 10 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
By
Niki Kottmann
| 1:03 p.m. February 11, 2017
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It was a star-studded evening on Sarasota Bay Feb. 10 for the 16th Annual Van Wezel Foundation Gala.
A select group of guests began their evening enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the VIP reception on the Sunset Terrace, and some were even interviewed on the red carpet.
All guests sipped and mingled while perusing the wide range of silent auction items available. Also during cocktail hour, artist Eric Waugh created two live paintings of the performers for the evening, Steve Martin and Martin Short, before Michael Klauber auctioned them off to the highest bidder, Jaclyn Brunckhorst. Guests then moved to the tent for a Michael’s On East dinner.
Klauber again served as auctioneer after dinner during another live auction that took place before the highlight of the evening, a performance by Steve Martin and Martin Short dubbed “An Evening You Will Regret for the Rest of Your Life.”
Co-Chairwomen Wendy Merriman and Brenda Maraman
Tessa Coutu and Marguerite Andrich
Richard and Monica Van Buskirk, president of the Van Wezel Foundation
Tony Becich and Kelli Maldonado
Harry and Patti Kasanow
Steve and Shari Ashman
Co-Chairwoman Wendy and Shaun Merriman
Audrey and Jason Nordmark
Artist Eric Waugh created two live paintings of the performers for the evening, Steve Martin and Martin Short, at the Van Wezel Foundation Gala on Feb. 10.
James Kirchschlager and Pattie Geldermann
Ian and Melissa Howard
Michael Klauber auctioned off two portraits — one of Steve Martin and the other of Martin Short, both performers that evening to the highest bidder, Jaclyn Brunckhorst.
Jim and Anne White with Nancy and Bill Gacioch
Cindy Henningsen, Rose Gangemi and Cindy Hoos
Ali Bahaj, board chairman of the Van Wezel Foundation Board of Trustees, welcomes the crowd to the 16th Annual Van Wezel Foundation Gala at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Feb. 12.
John Mason and Scott George
Monica Van Buskirk, president of the Van Wezel Foundation, with Loretta Luhman and Cathy Hansell
Guests at the 16th Annual Van Wezel Foundation Gala were greeted with a Tito’s vodka ice sculpture at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Feb. 12.
Adam and Jamie Still
Linda and Don Bruns with Charlotte Ryan and Nick Rossi
The 16th Annual Van Wezel Foundation Gala was held at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Feb. 12.
Megan and Zachary Blaugh
Jennifer Addison and Robert Jones
Bunny Skirboll, Faith Goldman and Hannah Weinberg
Tom and Linda Doan with Diana and Matt Buchanan
Cathy Kobren, Peter Fink, Eric Kobren and Joan Fink
The 16th Annual Van Wezel Foundation Gala was held at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Feb. 12.
Melissa and Greg Wells
Gloria and Ali Bahaj, board chairman of the Van Wezel Foundation Board of Trustees, Executive Director Mary Bensel and Tom and Bev Porter
Molly Russo and Silvanna Medina
Susan Dupree and Sandy Levesque
Eric Waugh, winner of his paintings Jaclyn Brunckhorst and Monica Van Buskirk, president of the Van Wezel Foundation
Karl and Ricky Newkirk
Jenny and Claude Conley
Sarah Karon and Melanie Natarajan
The 16th Annual Van Wezel Foundation Gala was held at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Feb. 12.
