There was nothing dead about Lawndale Art Center'sDía de los Muertos Gala and Retablo Silent Auction Friday night. In fact, a fresh and very much alive entourage of 600 artsy mortals — from the grungy-chic to dignitaries, some in costume and a few young 'uns — thronged the modern art presenter's space in hopes of emerging victorious from the fierce bidding.

The trophies?

One or more of 267 works inspired by the Latin American folk tradition of devotional art, crafted on 8 by 10-inch metal plates and donated by local artists.

Highest tenders for such retablos went to The Art Guys' perforated metal sheet resting on an unfinished wood shelf, Natasha Bowdoin's makeshift skull assembled out of cut-up playing cards and Kent Dorn's manipulation of paint skins and wax into a swampy, slightly melted, apocalyptic Garden of Eden.

Perhaps it was the Palomas spiked with Izkali Tequila or Saint Arnold Brewing Co.'s cool suds that cheered rowdy big spenders into helping the nonprofit net $45,000.

And that's what co-chairs James Glassman and Jessica Phifer had in mind when presiding over the fete. Executive director Christine West was as giddy as a school girl.

The record crowd — which included participating retablo artists Mitch Samuels, Mary Forbes, Noah Edmundson, Christopher Olivier, Clark Kellog and Sarah Hazel — toppled the event's expectations.

From the masses emerged Dr. Luis Malpica y de Lamadrid, Consul General of Mexico, and his wife Maripaz Malpica, Diana Hudson, Caroline Starry and Jared LeBlanc, CAMH's Bill Arning, Mark McCray, Adam Walker, Nicole Laurent with Joey Romano, Courtney Hurst with Andrew Hoyt, Gayle and Mike DeGeurin, Janie and Dick DeGuerin andAnn Kasman.