Event designer David Stark created a dozens of large chalk drawings- ranging from 50 feet wide to 35 feet tall-of New York scenes for the Robin Hood Foundation benefit's cocktail area in the Javits Center.
Benefitgoers entered the space through a long hallway adorned with street signs named after Robin Hood honchos, such as Dubin Ave. (for chairman Glenn Dubin) and Chessa St. (for board director Maurice Chessa).
A team of chalk-drawing artists dressed as construction workers roamed the floor of the cocktail room, adding images to the cityscapes.
The dining area created in one of the Javits Center's massive halls was a round room (for the first time) this year, and was adorned with 20 movie theater-sized screens displaying images of the city, children, and chalk animation.
Centerpieces on the 404 dining tables were giant purple alliums and yellow crespidia.
Thanks to bowls of chalk on highboys throughout the cocktail room, guests were able to add their own drawings to the chalkboards.
Stroud's centerpieces included mirrors, clear Lucite, candles, water-filled vases of viburnum, and text containing Robin Hood's six verbs.
The cocktail area also included freestanding wireless light boxes carrying images from the new campaign, which are designed to highlight the foundation's partnerships with other nonprofit organizations.
The arrivals backdrop—featuring the Cartier and MoMA logos rendered in neon and marquee lights—echoed the dense arrangements of tropical greenery found inside the dinner space.