VERO BEACH — In an unlikely clash of cultures, sheiks and harem girls partied with retro-rockers and material girls at the Vero Beach Museum of Art’s Rock the Casbah fundraiser. The two diametrically opposed “cultural groups” united as one at the Museum’s annual summer costume party. Entering past a golden camel and through a painted archway, guests arrived at a Moroccan Marketplace adorned with exquisite oriental rugs. Event chair Page Curtis, dolled up in a risqué genie outfit, credited Jafar Falasiri, of Falasiri Oriental Rugs, for the lush décor.
“Falasiri loaned us all these beautiful rugs for the event; thousands of dollars’ worth of rugs. He also loaned us all the decorations for the little seating areas, and even the camel,” said Curtis.
Proving for the seventh year in a row that men and women both enjoy dressing up for a good costume party, many of the guests had planned their outfits well in advance – with several purchasing their colorful garb while on recent trips to Egypt, Turkey and other exotic locales.
With their desert-style robes, vibrant caftans and head-coverings, a group of Museum Docents would have made Lawrence of Arabia feel right at home.
The younger generation stuck more to the funky styles of the ’80s, with guys in mullets and white jackets, a la Miami Vice, or the spiked hair and grunge-look of punk rockers. Girls were decked out in outfits most would prefer to forget, with fingerless gloves, side-ponytails, enormous shoulder pads, and crinoline skirts with leggings.
Attendance was down from previous years, but that just made the ‘Sultan of Swing Dance Club’ floor a little more accessible for guests to dance, or “pogo” to their favorite 80’s tunes, played by the band Rubix Cubed.
The hard working ladies of the Friends of Vero Beach Museum of Art committee organized the party, led by event chair Page Curtis. Other committee members included Andi Beck, Jackie Farrell, Susan Hansel, Charlotte Howell, Joyce Logan, Barbara Stewart, Linda Teetz, Susan Vancil, and Connie Webb.
Funds raised benefit the Museum’s numerous educational programs. {igallery 245}
