Attendees chat as the evening is just getting underway.
Nestled between Oak Street and Lake Shore Drive in the North and the Chicago River to the South, Streeterville is located in the very heart of downtown Chicago and is where one can find some of Chicago’s most famous landmarks and attractions. But not only is it home to such city-defining landmarks as the old Chicago Water Tower, Navy Pier and the John Hancock Building, it is also home to many people and businesses that are devoted to keeping Streeterville the exemplar community that it is. And in an effort to raise money to keep Streeterville beautiful, the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR) recently held their second annual Blueprints II fundraiser at the Museum of Contemporary Arts.
The attendees peruse the auction items.
Held in main hallway of the Museum of Contemporary Arts (MCA), the Blueprints II benefit and auction was attended by some of Streeterville's best and brightest residents and business owners. Upon entering the event, having walked up the stairs, past a small pond complete with contented coi, one was greeted by the sweet, soothing sound of flamenco guitar and the sight of the evening sun floating through the windows of the main entrance hall, basking the entire room in a soft orange glow. Looking around, scarlet clothed stand-alone tables peppered the area as the various items up for auction snaked around the edge of the room, having their beginning and end at the main stage near the back of the large perpendicular hall to the right of the entrance. It was truly a fitting place to hold an auction for the many unique and beautiful items up for bidding.
Some of the very unique items up for bids at the auction.
Donated by friends and members of the community, most of the items up for auction were art or architecture related. They included original sketches from architects such as Santiago Calatrava and Jeanne Gang, limited edition photographs by Brian Francyck and artifacts from cherished Chicago landmarks such as the famed Chicago Stadium. All of the items up for auction at the show were worth quite a pretty penny, but the starting bid for almost every item was well below its estimated worth, allowing some lucky bidders to help their community and walk away with a serious bargain.
A set of beautiful photographs that were up for auction.
The evening progressed as the guests enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres while perusing the items up for bids and waiting for the live auction to begin. But, before the auctioneer could take the podium, some important business had to be attended to first, as the MCA was to be honored with SOAR’s first ever “Pillars fo the Community” award. This honor commends institutions in Streeterville that strive to maintain and enhance the community through various means. The MCA was chosen to be the honor’s first recipient due in large part to the number of wonderful activities the museum offers citizens all year round.
Then, as the representatives for the MCA graciously accepted their honor and exited the stage, the auctioneer took the podium and the live auction began. With each auction block, the auctioneer gave a bit of background on each item, as the item itself was paraded around the crowded room for all to see. The auction kept an even pace, but the room often rippled with excitement as bidding on some auctions reached as high as $5500. But everyone knew that price was not the main matter, because all of the money from the sale of each item went towards keeping their community the wonderful place that it is.
The auction of a piece by architect Santiago Calatrava.
As the sun began to set and the live auction came to an end, candles provided a pleasant glow as dinner was served and the famed flamenco dancer Wendy Clinard and her band took the stage for the evening’s performance. As the band played, the audience clapped along as Ms. Clinard’s thunderous stomps echoed through the hall and her twirls filled the stage with a whirlwind of color and passion; the kind that only the time-honored art of flamenco can provide. The audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy the performance, and for those who had never witnessed a live flamenco dance before, it was truly a sight to behold.
Dancer Wendy Clinard in mid-twirl.
When the evening eventually came to an end, everyone left the MCA knowing that they had certainly made a difference. SOAR and Blueprints II are perfect examples of a community that truly cares. Each and every member is filled with a passion that burns bright and fast in their hearts. This passion is what drives each member to further the development of their community, and ensure that it remains a beautiful and thriving area where generations to come can grow and prosper, knowing that they are part of something truly wonderful.
