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Celebrating the Whitney Museum of American Art, the annual Art Party took place on November 11th, 2015, sponsored by Max Mara and hosted by the Whitney Contemporaries, a group of young leaders and arts patrons, who play an active role in furthering the Whitney’s mission in American art. In hindsight, it was very fitting the Contemporaries would host their annual Art Party on amid a week of major contemporary auctions around NYC. Whether it was pure coincidence or clever timing, the evening was a great success.
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It was a gorgeous outfit to be sure; particularly accented by its location: the dimmed lobby of The Whitney’s new $400 million building, designed by Renzo Piano, which opened earlier this year. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows the Hudson River and the busy Gansevoort street (which was the site of emerging artist Jared Madere’s 2-day popup gallery, “Bed Stuy Love Affair”) were in clear view and the atmosphere felt as if we were transported to some new, chic club (fitting for the neighborhood), with low couches dotting the room and a long bar off to the side and a scrolling LED announcing clever musings about life and love. A DJ booth was framed by the West Side Highway and New Jersey shore in the distance and was the site of performances by Ignabu and DonChristian, and sets by DJ Boody and Harley Viera-Newton. With dancers crowding the area, it felt vintage, chic, carefree, and accessible.
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Guests included Scott Rothkopf, the Whitney’s Chief Curator, Chelsea Leyland, Andreja Pejic, Tiffany Zabludowicz, Starlite Randall, Jay Johnson, Kipton Cronkite, Stacey Bendet Eisner as well as artists Chuck Close, Charlotte Kidd, Adam T. Helms, Valerie Keane, Liz Magic Laser, Viet Laurent Kunz, John Bianchi, Phillip Birch, Jake Cruzen and many more. Proceeds from the ticket sales support the Whitney’s educational initiatives, including the Independent Study Program, which is one of the finest post-graduate programs in the nation.
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On that note, the 5th floor galleries were open for viewing, allowing guests unfettered, after-hours access to two exciting exhibits.
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First, Rachel Rose, an emerging artist based in New York and recipient of the 2015 Frieze Art Award, has her first solo exhibition in the United States from October 30, 2015 to February 7, 2016 in the Whitney’s Kaufman Gallery.
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Second, the Whitney Museum’s groundbreaking Frank Stella retrospective. Encompassing and intent on showing the many facets of Stella, the works touched on everything from color exploration to collaborations with other artists. Stella, now in his 80’s, oversaw the exhibit’s presentation and execution.
Photo Credit: BFA NYC
