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MTV'S INDEFINABLE NIGHT BIDDING WARS AND POP STARS: BY JANE ROZELLE. PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA BOWMAN. JUNE | PAGE 10 | 2016 W hen he serves as auctioneer, Simon de Pury — the Swiss chairman and co-founder of Phillips de Pury & Company — knows how to get a crowd going. "Kenny Goss," he said to the Goss- Michael Foundation co-founder from the live-auction stage at the MTV Re:Define Gala. "You are a close friend of Marc Quinn. Now, being a close friend of Marc Quinn, surely, you would be able to convince him to give two commissions." De Pury waited for a nod from Goss. "Yes?" said the auctioneer. "That is amazing!" A smash of his gavel came moments later, signaling that the coveted Quinn work We Share Our Chemistry With The Stars (XX200), 2016, was sold to not just one, but two anonymous bidders, raising a staggering $640,000 during the boisterous bidding war. This was just one piece of the electrifying success story that was this year's MTV Re:Define Gala, which raised $2.5 million for the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Dallas Contemporary. Kenny and co-host, Joyce Goss, tapped the inventive New York–based curator Neville Wakefield (he has worked on projects for MoMA PS1 and Frieze, and a biennial in Palm Springs with Ed Ruscha), who lent his creative chops to Re:Define as the curator for the live and silent art auctions. The MTV Re:Define Gala auction, held this year at the Dallas Contemporary, boasts a prodigious mix of contemporary works from well-known and emerging artists, all up for bid through online auction house Paddle 8. This year was no exception, with works from myriad heavy hitters dotting the Contemporary, including pieces from Michael Craig-Martin, Dan Colen, Helmut Lang, Oliver Clegg and Damien Hirst. All eyes were on one massive work: Lipstick Building, 2015, from artist Enoc Perez, this year's honored artist, who jetted in from New York for the celebration. Also lauded during the gala was megawatt oilman, art collector, philanthropist and civic leader Tim Headington who has supported MTV Re:Define since its inception in 2011. (His Joule hotel, noted for its monumental collection of contemporary works, was also the gala's presenting sponsor.) During dinner, which was prepped by the Joule's talented culinary team, MTV Staying Alive Foundation executive director Georgina Arnold spoke about the foundation and the impressive momentum behind the Gala, with more than $6 million raised to date for AIDS research, media campaigns and international grass-roots initiatives targeting young people. After the auction, British pop star Leona Lewis took the stage. Seen: Dallas Contemporary executive director Peter Doroshenko; Dallas Contemporary director of exhibitions and senior curator Justine Ludwig; and MTV ambassadors Kari Kloewer, Jessica Nowitzki, and Krystal Schlegel; along with Muffin and John Lemak, Michelle Moussa, Rajan Patel, Susie Straubmueller, Jonika Nix, Mimi Sterling, Lainie Kritser, Laura and Lloyd Pierson, Anne and Steve Stodghill, Sarah Hobbs, Erin Cluley, Brian Bolke, Lisa and John Runyon, Capera Ryan, Jessica and Josh Ayers, Meghan Looney, Amira Duck, David Garcia Montoya, Abby and Will Armstrong. "THIS KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT REMINDS YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT INVISIBLE. IT IS VERY VINDICATING AND I'M REALLY HONORED AND HAPPY." — ENOC PEREZ, 2016 HONOREE Max Trowbridge Enoc Perez Jessica Nowitzki Georgia Arnold Tim Headington Leona Lewis Jeny Bania Ben Trowbridge Simon de Pury Tess Hutchinson Merriman Bill Hutchinson Holly Hutchinson Kenny Goss Peter Doroshenko Leona Lewis Janet Gunn Scott Kehn Rachel Roberts Selwyn Rayzor Catie Enrico Meredith Falke Rich Moses Chuck Steelman Megan Wood Neville Wakefield Oli Barrett Brady Wood Thomas Lentz Cindy Rachofsky Marguerite Hoffman Howard Rachofsky Joyce Goss