Saturday May 3, 2008 (7–9:30pm)
The Santa Monica Museum of Art's innovative Incognito benefit, now in its fourth year, challenges the instincts of seasoned art buyers while simultaneously permitting free rein to the personal tastes of amateurs. Hundreds of artists contributed works of identical dimensions (eight-by-ten inches) and price ($300) to the exhibition. The equalizing principle: their signatures are hidden on the backs of the works, and the buyer only discovers the identity of the artist after the purchase. Participants range from Baldessari to Baseman, with LA greats such as Salomón Huerta, Raymond Pettibon, and Ed and Andy Moses playing along. An open bar and art scion Eddie Ruscha's turntable skills help get you in the intuitive spending groove.
– Mallory Farrugia