Finding our resonance at the Grace Cathedral Gala

"Last year at Grace Cathedral's Carnivale, I found the plastic baby in the King Cake. Tradition dictates this brings good luck. In reality, it kicked off a spectacularly chaotic year where we were outbid on a house by a single minute, and then my daily professional life capsized. So, walking back into the cathedral this Friday night, now holding the keys to my first San Francisco home and owning The Bold Italic, felt less like attending a party and more like crossing a finish line."

"It is an undeniably tense moment in history to put on a gown and attend a lavish dinner. If you ask anyone hovering over the centerpieces at a San Francisco gala how they're doing, the answer is quite often a subdued, "Oh, you know." And you do know. But "subdued" doesn't mean "stark." Looking down the long rows of tables, the cathedral was awash in the vibrant, shifting colors of the Year of Resonance."

"And that intimacy paid off; the evening raised nearly $1 million for the cathedral's community programs. That revenue is a lifeline for the cathedral's inclusive ministries and its Artist in Residence program. This year's resident is Bill Fontana, a renowned sound artist whose work captures the hidden acoustics of iconic structures, like the vibrations of the Golden Gate Bridge, or the tolling of Notre Dame's bells."

Grace Cathedral's Carnivale blended celebration and solemnity as guests marked personal milestones amid a tense social moment. The event featured vibrant Year of Resonance colors, Samba dancers, and music from the Chris Clouse Project. Tables stretched into cathedral columns, creating a spacious intimacy that enabled substantive conversation. That intimacy helped the evening raise nearly $1 million for community programs, sustaining inclusive ministries and the Artist in Residence program. Bill Fontana serves as this year's Artist in Residence, known for capturing hidden acoustics in iconic structures. Fashion delivered ecclesiastical glamour alongside the fundraising success.

Read at The Bold Italic