THE CROWD:

The Orange County Museum of Art, formerly known as the Newport Harbor Art Museum, has enjoyed a history of evolution, advancement and change. In days past, the museum embodied a more traditional view of the world of art, although it always had one foot tentatively planted in the exploration of contemporary and modern art forms.

Today, the museum is decidedly forward-looking under the direction of Dennis Szakacs and curators Elizabeth Armstrong, Karen Moss and Sarah Bancroft. The agenda of the Orange County Museum of Art now has both feet firmly planted in the world of cutting-edge contemporary art.

Earlier this month, the museum staff joined with local benefactors to throw their annual gala known as “Art of Dining.” The evening welcomed more than 300 art aficionados to the Island Hotel in Newport Center.

The big news of the night centered on continuing growth, expansion and evolution of the museum as the announcement was made that the museum will be moving to a new site at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.

The donation of land from the Segerstrom family will make it possible for the art museum to construct a new state-of-the-art facility on the property adjacent to the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, uniting both the visual and performing arts in one location for all locals to enjoy.

The announcement of the move was orchestrated in conjunction with the 2008 “Art of Dining” experience.

It is customary for the gala to honor a very special guest and pay tribute to his or her career as a cornerstone of the fundraising night. Major names in the worlds of art, design, architecture and arts patronage have fronted “Art of Dining” over many seasons.

This year, the special guest was architect Thom Mayne, internationally recognized designer and recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Founder of the acclaimed architectural firm Morphosis, and noted for bold forms of design, Mayne was named as the architect for the new art museum to be constructed on the Segerstrom land.

Museum director Szakacs told the crowd that the process of developing the design theme and establishing the budget will commence this summer. Fundraising is already underway to support the project.

As Mayne was introduced to the crowd, large screens behind the stage projected images of his body of work. Mayne rose from his dining room table at the Island Hotel and came up to the podium, offering only a few select words of gratitude for being honored by the museum assemblage and for being selected as architect of the new art center.

“Art of Dining” began many years ago as a spectacular party featuring the talents of some of the region’s, and in fact the nation’s, top chefs.

It was arguably one of the most extravagant parties on the Newport social calendar, attracting a “who’s who” crowd of both the art world and the more conservative business and social circles in the region.

Every year, it became grander as chairs of “Art of Dining” outdid one another year after year in planning and creating the lavish party. Several years ago, it all changed. Attracting a decidedly younger crowd, “Art of Dining” still boasts the support of the establishment, but the event, like the museum, has become decidedly more contemporary, and, as a result, much simpler and more to the point.

This season, the event was chaired by Carmela Phillips with assistance from vice chairs Marsha Anderson and Joan Riach. All three women have been intimately involved with the evolution of the museum over a span of many seasons. Both Anderson and Riach are serious art collectors.

The trio of chairs called on a committee of local citizens, including Sally Crockett, Twyla Martin, Jennifer Segerstrom, Jennifer Van Bergh, Maralou Harrington, Gianna Kerrison, Carol Lee, Gretchen Pace and Debra Gunn-Downing, to name only a few, to help create a stunning evening on the Orange Coast.

The party was ultra-sophisticated, with décor designed by Sunny Ravanbach of White Lilac in Irvine. The ballroom of the Island Hotel was transformed into an international salon that was sleek and full of surprises, including handmade contemporary chandeliers that were more like works of art, strategically placed throughout the massive room. Cascading water sculptures were placed at opposite ends of the ballroom, and lighting was used dramatically to set the tone.

Dinner service was outstanding, led by Island executive chef Bill Bracken, beginning with an Ahi tuna appetizer followed by noisettes of spring lamb, and raspberry sorbet served with fresh fig and pineapple gelato over passion fruit cake for dessert.

The Coleman band entertained, bringing guests up to the dance floor until the midnight hour. Major sponsorship for the event came from Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Saks Fifth Avenue, South Coast Plaza and a host of additional corporate and private donors.

Spotted in the crowd were Pat and Carl Neisser, Leslie and Dino Cancellieri, Caroline Jones, Marshall and Carol Lee, Rebecca and Carl McLarand, Kelly and David Emmes II, Teri Kennady, Margaret and Robert Sprague, Jean and Tim Weiss, Cindy and Steve Fry, Michelle and Paul Janavs, Moira and Fred Kamgar and Lilly and Paul Merage.

Also front and center for the museum were Big Canyon’s most handsome couple Barbara and Alex Bowie, Mindy and Glenn Stearns, Pat and Gene Hancock, Inga and Mark Veder, Stephanie and Ken Grody, Gianna and Dee Kerrison, Marion Knott and Marta and Raj Bhathal.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.