Recap: A+D Museum celebrates grand reopening at new space in L.A.'s Arts District

Partygoers dressed to the nines gathered at 900 East 4th Street in Downtown Los Angeles' Arts District last weekend for the Architecture and Design Museum's grand reopening gala: CELEBRATE 2015. The A+D hosts the gala every year as a fundraising benefit, with all profits going toward museum operations, future exhibitions, and the like.

This year's celebration was also a happy housewarming party for the A+D, who recently moved into the Arts District (for the timebeing) after residing at the soon-to-be-razed 6032 Wilshire Boulevard building in the Westside for about five years. The A+D said farewell to their old space on a delightfully colorful note with the "Beyond Graffiti 2" exhibition this past spring. A notable group of local graffiti artists were invited to spray-paint their hearts out on the building, which will remain in all its graffiti-ed glory until demolition.

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That optimistic note from Beyond Graffiti was sustained in the gala opening. Emcee and actor Boise Thomas returned as the event host and kept guests upbeat throughout the night. Smaller presentation talks with some participating artists also took place inside the gallery. Right when the party was in full swing, Executive Director Tibbie Dunbar gave remarks welcoming and thanking the crowd of artists and guests.

Although the A+D is still in the process of moving in and had barely finished arranging the exhibition for the event, there was hardly any obvious sign of that -- what with a building chock-full of party-ready guests, an open bar, '80s music blasting through the speakers, and eye-catching art pieces all on display.

The art pieces were custom-designed "shelters" and other on-theme items created by notable artists, designers, and architects like Ball-Nogues Studio, Gensler, Neil M. Denari Architects, Ehrlich Architects, PAR Architects, Mia Lehrer + Associates and many more. Guests who were feeling lucky had the chance to bid on the items in a silent auction.