ASPEN, CO.- Over 350 of the world’s top art collectors, wine connoisseurs, artists, gallery owners, museum directors, curators, and global business leaders came together in Aspen for three days of striking events to celebrate the Aspen Art Museum’s 6th annual artCRUSH summer benefit gala. artCRUSH and its related events, wineCRUSH, previewCRUSH, and afterpartyCRUSH, which were held August 4 – 6, 2010, with the primary artCRUSH event taking place on Friday, August 6, 2010, featured the 2010 Aspen Award for Art presentation to renowned artist Marilyn Minter. Friday’s Gala included a seated dinner, followed by a live auction of one-of-a-kind works by artists such as Marilyn Minter, Tom Sachs, Delia Brown and others, conducted by Sotheby’s auctioneer Tobias Meyer, which raised over $500,000. In addition to the main event, special artCRUSH-related events preceded the gala evening. wineCRUSH, hosted annually by John and Amy Phelan in their contemporary Aspen home, and once again featured their cutting-edge art collection. The remarkable evening featured wine and food presented by master sommeliers led by Jay Fletcher guiding guests through rare vintages and pairings. previewCRUSH was a cocktail reception at the Baldwin Gallery in Aspen, that allowed guests the opportunity to preview live and silent auction offerings that were then auctioned off at the artCRUSH gala.

Each year artCRUSH draws major arts patrons, gallerists, and artists from across the country and around the globe. Joining co-chair Amy Phelan and her husband John Phelan, guests included: New York collectors Jill & Jay Bernstein, Melva Bucksbaum & Raymond J. Learsy, David & Danielle Ganek, and, Glenn & Amanda Fuhrman; Los Angeles collectors and arts patrons Maria & Bill Bell, Bob & Linda Gersh, and Marc & Jane Nathanson; Miami collectors Don & Mera Rubell, Jason & Michelle Rubell, and Dennis & Debra Scholl; Dallas patrons Domenico & Eleanore De Sole, Paul & Gayle Stoffel, Allen & Kelli Questrom; Toby Devan Lewis of Cleveland; Paul & June Schorr; Connecticut collectors David & Jennifer Stockman and Arthur & Pamela Sanders; Chicago collectors Stefan Edlis & Gael Neeson; and Aspen collectors Frannie Dittmer, Bob & Soledad Hurst, AAM Board President Daniel Holtz & Toni Holtz, Nancy & Robert Magoon, and Larry & Susan Marx. International collectors that attended included Isabella & Theodor Dalenson, Gabby & Ramiro Garza, and Eugenio Lopez. Guest artists included Aspen award recipient Marilyn Minter, Delia Brown, Will Cotton, Josephine Meckseper, Mirhad, Richard Phillips, Tom Sachs, Mickalene Thomas, and Xavier Vielhan.

Museum directors and curators included Anne Ellegood, Douglas Fogle and Ann Philbin of the Armand Hammer Museum of Art; Richard Armstrong from the Guggenheim Museum; Klaus Biesenbach and Peter Eleey from PS1 Contemporary Art Center; Olga Viso of the Walker Museum of Art; and Adam Weinberg from the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Guest gallerists included Richard Edwards, Sarah Gavlak, Christoph Gerozissis, Ronnie & Jan Greenberg, Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, who represents Marilyn Minter, Rachel Lehmann, Perry Rubenstein and Bjorn Wetterling.

Tobias Meyer, Deputy Chairman, Sotheby’s Europe and Worldwide Head of Contemporary Art: “It has been my great pleasure to be an auctioneer for the artCRUSH live auction since 2007. It is one-of-a-kind—featuring great art, and benefiting an institution at the forefront of contemporary art in the U.S. artCRUSH has become a truly must-attend summer event for those who appreciate and enjoy international contemporary art.”