The BGCC: "Art Against Aids" Happy Hour

Sunday's hint of spring has your BGCC hosts craving Cosmos with friends! It's time to come out of hiding and help heat things up this Thursday as we return back to our monthly BGCC cocktail party this Thursday and raise money for Heartland Alliance.

Plan to join us for delicious cocktails, gourmet appetizers and a chance to bid on art and gift baskets!

THE VODKA CHALLEGE: STOLI VS. ABSOLUT! Stoli has challenged Absolut to see which is the smoother vodka. We'll let you decide on Thursday

Can't wait to see you there!! Here are the details:

WHAT: The "Art Against AIDS" Happy Hour

WHEN: Thursday, March 6, 2008, 5:30 - 8:30 pm

WHERE: Le Passage (description below)

ADDRESS: 937 North Rush Street (see below for transportation info)

DRINK SPECIAL: Stoli Martinis will be on special for $8 and don't miss the BGCC's First Vodka Challenge! Stoli vs. Absolut ... You taste, you vote, you decide (details below)

FOOD: Le Passage will be serving hors d'oeuvres to our guests. In addition, stick around and enjoy dinner after the event in their new restaurant, "The Drawing Room," and receive 20% off dinner!

BENEFICIARY: Heartland Alliance

MINIMUM DONATION: $20, which includes your ticket to the Stoli vs. Absolut Taste Challenge!, with 100% going to our beneficiary.

Here is a sneak peak at the artwork that will be available in our Silent Auction.

Robert Cleve, "Tulip Bowl"
12" round Fused Cranberry & Clear Iridized Glass, Value $175

Stephen Pease, Untitled
30"x10" Mixed medium oil and acrylic abstract painting, Value $500
Stephen is a self taught artist born April, 8, 1978 in Sanoma, California

Darren Jones, "Industrial Iris" 8"x8", Value $300
Darren Jones, "Cottage Iris" 12"x12", Value $425
Mixed Media of Acrylic & Sand
www.darrencjones.com

Armando Pedroso, "Idea"
6"x12" from his Copper Tile Matrix Series
Value $350
www.armandopedroso.com

Alex Aubry, "Caligraphy 97" - aubry_alex@hotmail.com
Acrylic on Canvas, Value $375
Alex Aubry is a practicing architect working in Chicago originally from Paris, France. His work primarily centers on research into particular forms of calligraphy from various Eastern cultures, in particular Ottoman, Japanese and Sanskrit. The focus of his work centers on the beauty of the script, which is treated as abstract forms that often bleed off the canvas. The written traditions of different cultures are often heavily loaded with social, religious and political symbolism. But through his work, such symbols are taken out of context by combining them with techniques more closely associated with Western traditions of abstract expressionism.

Paul Roberts, "Aqua"
36"x36" Acrylics on Canvas, Value $1500
An established artist, Paul has held several Chicago exhibitions. He is represented by Gruen Galleries. Paul donates paintings each year for HRC, Vital Bridges & Center on Halsted. His next show will be at MiniBar on March 20.
http://web.mac.com/paul.g.roberts