Feb. 22, 2018

Galaxy Gala MMXVII: A Night in Pompeii

Left: McKenna and Susie Wesley with Tracey and Larry Lytle. Top, right: Marianne Mago and Pam Kolbe. Bottom, right: janae and Vince Roig

The 465 guests at Arizona Science Center’s annual Galaxy Gala were treated to an Italian-inspired evening Feb. 3. A Night in Pompeii featured living statues, a red-carpet social hour – complete with a volcanic cocktail, and the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll through Pompeii: The Exhibition currently on display.

Guests enjoyed an Italian dinner – especially the Neapolitan meatball – prepared Chef Michael DeMaria. The meatball recipe is his mother’s. Dessert included gelato, and Italian wines were served. Dancing followed dinner.

The event raised in excess of $450,000 for STEM education programs at the center. It also promoted the Fund-A-Bus initiative to provide 3,000 youth with round-trip transportation and general admission for a field trip to Arizona Science Center.

Tracey and Larry Lytle chaired the gala, with Susie and McKenna Wesley as their co-chairs.

POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition, at the Science Center through May 28, takes guests back to the 20-hour period in 79 A.D. when Vesuvias erupted, completely covering the Italian city of Pompeii with volcanic ash, decimating all life. The more than 200 beautifully preserved artifacts in the display are on loan mainly from the Naples National Archaeological Museum, and include sculptures, frescoes, jewelry, coins and even body casts of victims. A 4D movie is part of the experience.

PHOTOS BY BEN ARNOLD