Guests entering the 55th Carnegie International preview May 2 were greeted by faux protestors with placards that asked: "Is There Life on Mars?"

Who knows? But there was certainly life inside the Carnegie Museum for this most prestigious of galas.

More than 900 guests, including most of the 40 artists featured in the exhibition curated by Douglas Fogle, were in attendance, along with dealers, collectors and lenders from all over the planet.

The Women's Committee of the Museum of Art, the volunteers who plan and execute the monumental event, took a new approach this year under the chairmanship of Janet Hunt (with husband Bill, board chair of the Museum of Art) and Mardi Royston (with Jim). Instead of the usual formal dinner, a strolling supper was arrayed on long tables in the Music Hall foyer, as were fabulous flowers by Toadflax.

Along with libations from the Bars on Mars, the less stuffy format encouraged more socializing, something the local earthlings did into the wee hours.

It helped that a second wind blew through the marble hall when the late-night event began, bringing in fresh bodies and more interesting takes on the "creative cocktail" attire. A slew of white sofas, part of the stellar decor created by decorations chair Nancy Byrnes, encouraged lingering.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Carnegie Prize to Vija Celmins and the new Fine Prize (generously underwritten by Milton and Sheila Fine) to Apichapong Weerasethakul, both worth $10,000.