On Oct. 21, more than 400 guests enjoyed a joyous evening at Moondance, the Heard Museum’s annual gala. Guests viewed the Heard’s new Grand Gallery exhibition Early Days: Indigenous Art from the McMichael. Moondance honored longtime Heard Museum partner Bank of America and Richard I. Chavez, jewelry and lapidary artist from the San Felipe Pueblo tribe in New Mexico. The gala featured a cocktail reception, a catered dinner and desserts, and dancing with live music performances. This year’s campaign committee was chaired by Sharron Lewis, who led a fundraising effort that totaled over $1.2 million.

“Thanks to the generosity of individual and corporate sponsors, Moondance 2023 was one of the Heard Museum’s most successful fundraising events to date,” said David M. Roche, Dickey Family Director and Heard Museum CEO. “This support enables the Heard to educate and delight communities with the beauty and traditions of American Indian art.”

Guests had the privilege of viewing Early Days, which is on view at the Heard Museum through January 2024, and is made possible at the Heard Museum by signature sponsor EPCOR and sponsor Lili Chester. Additional support is provided by donors to the Grand Gallery Exhibition Fund.

During the cocktail reception, guests enjoyed live music performances from Mariachi Estrellas Musicales, Craig Bohlmer (Cherokee) on piano, Game Ayala (Yaqui) on guitar. At dinner, an honoree video presentation by Steven Yazzie (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo/European) was shared and the evening concluded with a packed dance floor led by The Herndon Brothers. Throughout the evening, guests perused items in the record-setting silent auction, including works by premier American Indian artists like Allan Houser, Charles Loloma, Denise Wallace, and Dan Namingha.

For more information, please visit http://www.heard.org.