Naked Truths at an Arty Benefit

They used to hold tag sales to benefit the Pasadena Art Alliance. This year’s fund-raiser was a little different.

And although naked contortionists and Pasadena matrons may sound like an unlikely combination, it made for one hell of a party Saturday night. More than 400 well-heeled guests at the alliance’s Artrave99 mingled with entertainers who included transvestites Christy Girlington and Linda Evangelipstick, and a duo in dresses made of bubble wrap who called themselves the “bubble girls.”

The highlight of the evening was a shockingly naked couple, Hannah and Mark Simm of the Los Angeles performance group Osseus Labyrinth. Suspended on wires from the ceiling, the duo let it all hang out for a sea of gaping guests below.

“We agonized over that act for six months,” said event organizer Mary Alexander. “When we first looked at the video, we said, ‘There is no way that 80 year-old ladies will stand for this. It’s too over the top, too offensive, too too.”

Alexander gave the risque tape to five of the “most conservative” Pasadena Art Alliance past presidents to review, and they said, “Go for it.”

“We decided this group [of patrons] was around in the ‘60s, when there was plenty of nudity and streakers and all that. We did not get one negative comment all night.”

The Pasadena Arts Alliance was created in 1955 to help bring contemporary art to the Pasadena Art Museum. After the museum closed in 1974, the group went nonprofit, giving money to artists and art institutions throughout L.A.

Saturday’s event, at the Brewery arts complex in downtown L.A., began with a live auction of electric bicycles, a three-week international art history tour and other cool stuff. A mild form of slam-dancing evolved during the evening, as dancers bounced off the springy ropes around the dance floor, which was a boxing ring.

Some begged off early, saying things like: “I’ll be lucky if I have half an ear left!” But we’re willing to predict most will be back next year.

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It’s so nice to attend a charity event where those involved have a real connection to the cause, as was the case Friday night when Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, Washington Redskins quarterback Rodney Peete, opened their home for a party to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease.

“Parkinson’s disease is near and dear to my heart, and opening my house for this event was a way for me to show how close to this charity I feel,” said the actress, now on the WB’s “For Your Love.”

Her father, Matthew Robinson, who has had the disease for two decades, inspired the couple to found the HollyRod Foundation. Created last year, the foundation helps financially challenged Parkinson’s patients.

Spotted at the cocktail party and Jon Valdi fashion show: Eriq La Salle, Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance, Kenny “Babyface” and Tracy Edmonds, Star Jones, Sugar Ray and Bernadette Leonard, and Lela Rochon.

A silent auction spawned one of those only-in-L.A. moments, as guests carefully avoided some of the items up for bid: a face-lift, Botox treatment and eyelid surgery. Who’s gonna put their names on those bid lists?

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The Associated Press contributed to this report. Booth Moore can be reached at booth.moore@latimes.com.