Grand Circle Art Alliance (GCAA) tried something new Saturday, Sept. 30. They held a dress-up fundraiser featuring four diverse entertainers, a collaborative artwork, a silent auction for the works of local artists, and -- drum roll – fantastic food catered by Dam Bar and Grill. They christened the event “An Enchanted Evening.”

Setting the tone for the festivities, Dana Law, dressed in a goddess-like gold-embroidered white gown, soothed with her mystical singing bowls. Her husband Steven Law followed, reading selections from his literary works. Musician Nolan Karras James treated the audience to some funky Diné blues. Singer-guitarist Kendall Neisess topped off the evening with her well-polished solo performance. 

The Chronicle spoke with GCAA President Wagner Kelly and Treasurer Cassidy Finn after the event. 

“Kendall [Neisess] was the chair on this committee to do this thing,” Kelly said. “This was all her idea, man. She put this whole thing together. I was the cheerleader on the sidelines. Kendall's really the mastermind of this.”

“I would like to see more events like this for us,” said Finn. “I really enjoyed the venue. I had some reservations with Blue just because it was so small, but it was a very nice little intimate space, and I personally would like to see another event there. It was an expensive ticket. It was $85 a ticket. But I thought that the appetizers and then having four different performers and knowing that the money was going to a nonprofit and the type of venue that it was, I think the people that paid the $85 were happy to pay the 85.”

Not all tickets were sold, but Kelly said the proceeds from the silent auction more than made up for it. Both Kelly and Finn want to do it again next year. Finn would also like to try a lower-ticket-cost event at a larger venue in the future.

The event stirred up a lot of excitement for GCAA. Finn even bought a special evening dress for the event.

“When Kendall came up with the theme in Enchanted Evening, all I could think of when I think of Enchanted Evening is being out under the stars, and I love the stars here,” said Finn.

“One reason we moved out here is because we’re closer to the stars. When I was in Seattle, I was sea level, and there was light pollution everywhere. I didn't see the stars. I love it here. 

“So I kind of looked around Page and couldn’t find anything, and I decided that I was going to go online and look. And I searched for dress, midnight blue, enchanted, stars, and there were quite a few results that came back that were affordable. But when something like that happens and you find something online, is it really going to look like what the picture shows? Are the colors going to be true to what you think you’re seeing on the screen? Is it going to fit? And for me, it was, yes and yes. The dress was perfect.”