Week of Chocolate to attract crowd

The atrium at the IU Art Museum serves as the gateway into the building’s various galleries. Visitors traverse its floors as they view art from around the world, and students carry their portfolios to studios in the adjacent building. 

But once a year, the atrium serves a different kind of museum patron: the chocolate
lover.

The Art of Chocolate event is 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the IU Art Museum.

As a part of The Week of Chocolate, a Bloomington tradition, the evening puts the spotlight on local artists and chefs.

“It is an elegant evening filled with great people, decadent hors d’oeuvres and chocolate creations from the finest local chefs, live entertainment, libations and, of course, art,” said Karen Scherer, development director for Options.

The love of art and chocolate is not the only reason for the event.

Options, a local organization that assists people with disabilities, wanted to come up with a signature fundraiser in 1999, Scherer said.

“A list of ideas was presented to the event committee, and when the committee read the word ‘chocolate,’ everyone smiled,” she said.

Scherer added that the Art of Chocolate was started in 2006 in order to have an event that was a little more upscale than Chocolate Fest and to draw more donors. The pairing of something sweet with something visual did just that.

Hannah Carmichael, IU Art Musuem manager of events and volunteers, said enthusiasm for the event has only grown. This year, the art auction will be online in order to compensate for the increased interest.

“There are usually about 220 people in attendance. This year, the auction will be online because we wanted to make more space for those attending,” she said.

Though not all of the art up for bidding will be at the event, Carmichael said the 10 best works will be on display in the atrium for patrons to admire. And as attendees observe the works, they can also sample hors d’oeuvres and chocolates from local bakeries and restaurants, such as hand-painted chocolates from BLU Boy Chocolate Café and Cakery.

David Fletcher, owner and executive chef at BLU Boy, has participated in the event each year since it began and said the night is the perfect chance to have a bit of fun and still support an important cause.

“I used to work in a group home in college and so the cause is near and dear,” Fletcher said. “In addition, the event is a great one for chefs to show off a bit.”