Brothers now in spirit of Arts Center benefit

 Harry Lee Hastings (left) and his brother Andrew are on the host committee of Studio Party, a new event at the Arkansas Arts Center.
Harry Lee Hastings (left) and his brother Andrew are on the host committee of Studio Party, a new event at the Arkansas Arts Center.

— The Hastings family of Little Rock and their family business, Moon Distributors, have had a long relationship with the Arkansas Arts Center.

The company, which dates to 1935 (the year prohibition ended in Arkansas), is a wholesaler of alcoholic beverages. If you’ve had cocktails, beer or wine at an Arts Center member’s party or fundraising event, quite possibly it was provided by Moon Distributors, a longtime Arts Center supporter.

The fourth generation of Hastingses, brothers Lee and Andrew, followed in the family tradition and became involved with the Arts Center. Lee and Andrew and their wives - Nikki and Mary Katherine, respectively - are on the host committee for Studio Party: Jazzkapelle, a fundraising event Saturday at the Arts Center.

The party’s Roaring ’20s theme was inspired by a 1921 Max Beckmann drawing from the Arts Center’s collection titled Jazzkapelle, which is German for jazz band. The era is known for prohibition and bathtub gin - a logical fit for the Hastings brothers and Moon Distributors. It’s the first time the brothers have volunteered at the Arts Center since their parents roped them into being “valet parkers” at fundraisers in their teens.

Now all grown up, the brothers went last year to Tabriz, the Arts Center’s big biennial affair, and decided to volunteer - all on their own.

“We’re very excited to be a part of this,” Andrew says, “because it was so much fun last year.”

As members of the host committee, the brothers are primarily charged with getting their friends to buy tickets to the party.

“We have a very good group of peopleon our host committee,” Andrew says. “Everyone brings in a different group of people. We are just trying to bring in as many people as we can and really support the Arts Center.”

Laura Connor, a marketing associate with the center, says that many of the committee members are first-time volunteers as well.

“We have a lot of new people to the Arts Center, which is really cool because, in turn, that gets in more of their friends that are not involved as well.”

As the brothers became involved with Jazzkapelle, they have learned more about the Arts Center.

“Truthfully, I didn’t know it offered all the classes,” Andrew says. “I’ve been here for weddings, I’ve been here for parties, but they are building guitars over here,” he says, gesturing toward the classrooms. “It really has a lot to offer that most people - well, that I don’t know about - and I’m assuming other people don’t know about.”

Lee expects his growing family will become moreinvolved in the center. He and his wife, Nikki, have a daughter, Mary, and another child due in September. Nikki wants their children to be involved in the children’s theater one day.

Although everyone is invited to Jazzkapelle, the event is geared to a younger crowd.

“It is a party for everyone,” Connor says. “But with this host committee of 25 people, singles and couples, we are really just trying to pull in a new audience.”

And with the lively and chaotic Jazzkapelle as its inspiration, the joint will be jumping. Thom Hall, registrar of the Arts Center, says the Beckmann drawing is all about the Jazz Age and the nightclub jazz scene. There’s this craziness to it, he says, noting the aggressive marks and energy in the drawing.

Partygoers will be able to expect the same high energy at the fundraiser. Guests will step into a hidden speak-easy decorated, according to the event’s creative director Todd Bagwell, “with thoughts of the Kit Kat Club [a la Cabaret] in mind.” Smoky lighting, black leather seating and mirrored tables will help create a speak-easy feel. Guests will also be able to choose froman array of Jell-O shots at the Prohibition Jell-O Shot Buffet station.

Jell-O shots? Bagwell noted that due to the lack of modern refrigeration in those days, many foods were jellied.

“With this in mind, Martha Best of Simply the Best Catering and I began to conceptualize a clever way to present jellied treats,” Bagwell says. They came up with Jell-O shots - and not just in strawberry and lime.

“We will serve everything from a Cherry Wine Slurp, presented in a test tube, to a Dirty Vodka Martini,” Bagwell explained. Also on the buffet will be layered rainbow shots and blow pops, which are assorted flavors of Jell-O on a lollipop stick.

And there won’t be any auctions - silent or live.

“It’s just a fun event - a party,” Lee says.

“Just show up and have fun,” Andrew adds.

Regular tickets for the event, which begins at 8 p.m., are $100. VIP tickets, which include a 6:30 p.m. pre-party, are $250 each. For ticket information, call (501) 396-0307 or visit studioparty.org. Proceeds from the event support the Arkansas Arts Center’s exhibition and education programs.

High Profile, Pages 33 on 03/25/2012

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