| Alan Peppard: Weaver bares all for art 03/05/2001 By Alan Peppard / The Dallas Morning News Actress Sigourney Weaver surprised herself more than anyone when she accidentally flashed the crowd at Saturday night's Two by Two for AIDS and Art benefit. The guest of honor was artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel whose new movie, Before Night Falls, was recently shown at the Dallas Museum of Art.
"I was almost in Julian's movie," Sigourney explained to the black-tie crowd. "I was having dinner at his house when he said he was looking for an older actress with droopy ... [breasts] to be in his movie." As the crowd heaved with laughter, Sigourney patted down the top of her strapless evening gown until it fit snug against her and everyone could inspect her droopiness or lack thereof.
Quite unexpectedly, she popped out of her top on one side, unintentionally proving that she was still finely toned.
While it wasn't exactly the full monty, let's just say that I've now seen more of Sigourney Weaver than I did of some of my college girlfriends.
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Two by Two is a joint benefit for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Dallas Museum of Art. For the third year in a row, art collector Howard Rachofsky and his wife, Cindy, hosted the Two by Two auction at their Preston Hollow estate.
The couple's impressive collection of contemporary art was removed from the house so that Two by Two artworks up for bid could be hung and auctioned off to the guests.
The centerpiece was a 9-foot-by-9-foot oil and enamel painting by Mr. Schnabel hung in the main reception hall titled Saint Sebastian (Portrait of Neri Benelli).
During the live auction conducted by Tobias Meyer, worldwide head of contemporary art for Sotheby's, Howard dueled for the painting with a rival who was bidding by telephone. Howard emerged victorious with a purchase price of $120,000.
"Well, it's already here," Howard said sheepishly about his new acquisition.
"Yes, just think of the money we saved," joked his wife.
Tribute to Schnabel
Art collectors Marguerite and Robert Hoffman co-chaired Two by Two with the Rachofskys. The benefit was actually a series of events beginning with a Friday evening party at the University Park estate of banking titan Gerald Ford. Saturday night was the party at the Rachofsky house. On Sunday, sculpture collector Ray Nasher hosted a brunch at his home where Mr. Schnabel was presented with the amfAR Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS.
Under the big top
The live auction at the Rachofsky house was the highlight of the weekend. Art world celebs and amfAR leaders mingled with run-of-the-mill ultra-rich Texans all gathered under a heated tent.
Auction items included works by abstract expressionist Hans Hoffman, contemporary artist Cy Twombly as well as a ballooning trip at the Forbes' publishing family's Chateau de Balleroy in France donated by Kip Forbes (younger brother of former presidential candidate Steve Forbes). There was also a trip to a private island near Capri that fetched $125,000.
Among the VIPs were amfAR co-founder Dr. Mathilde Krim, Dallas Museum of Art director Jack Lane and his wife, Inge-Lise, former Dallasite-turned-New York artist Dan Rizzie and art dealer Ted Pillsbury.
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