I was on cloud nine when the Nasher Sculpture Center reached out to ask for coordination assistance with their first-ever, Nasher Prize event in Dallas Texas.

Essentially, it’s a $100,000 award from the Center to a living artist that has had a large impact on contemporary sculpture. This Prize will be an annual event where the winner is selected from a jury of curators, art historians, artists, and museum directors who have varied perspectives on the matter, and expertise in the field. The winner also receives a physical award that is designed by Renzo Piano, the architect of the Nasher Sculpture Center.

Since this was the first of a longstanding tradition, the Nasher wanted to do things in style and Keestone Events was able to assist with logistics, planning, and timelines. It was so fulfilling to see the garden transformed in a new way with the design that the Nasher team came up with. Towards the back of the garden is a walkway where a water feature stretches from one side of the museum to the other. A tent was erected over the water (yes, you read right), and over the week, it rapidly transformed into a fabulous clear structure that was air-conditioned, carpeted, and had custom-made lighting fixtures. And since there are trees by the water, the tent was built around the trees which stood out then as a focal point.

Black crossback chairs were utilized for a sleeker look, and even the silverware was custom made for the event. No detail was left unturned and the best part was that the whole experience was so immersive. Every minute was accounted for, from the dinner to the presentation to the musicians and their performances throughout. The most breathtaking part was when the lights were turned on as it got dark which just transformed the whole place entirely.

Doris Salcedo, a Columbian artist was the winner that year. She’s known for transforming the mundane into moving pieces of loss and remembrance. You can learn more about her work here.