| EVENT REPORT 06.26.09 11:50 AM |
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Gen Art Reaches $100,000 Fund-Raising Benchmark With Alumni Support
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 | Alumni and honorary chairman Zac Posen at Gen Art's fund-raiser
Photo: Alexis Corchado for BizBash |
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On Wednesday night, confronted by the weak economy and reduced funding from corporate sponsors, Gen Art held its first benefit in nearly a decade, appealing to its supporters and alumni for help. To bring them out and raise the much-needed funds for the nonprofit organization, the foundation solicited donations from its network of contacts—pulling in 70 pieces of artwork to sell and 28 items to auction off.
Hosted by Gen Art C.E.O. and founder Ian Gerard and chaired by an honorary committee that included designer Zac Posen and actor Adrian Grenier, the event drew approximately 1,300 designers, artists, musicians, and members to 7 W New York.
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RELATED TOPICS
Gen Art, Café Bustelo, Campari, Kenneth Cole, Aperture Magazine |
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| NEWS 05.21.09 8:00 AM |
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Events and Pop-Ups Are a Boon to Troubled Retail Real Estate—and Vice Versa
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 | Reebok's La Brea pop-up
Photo: Vero Image |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
The recession has brought a flurry of “For Lease” signs to the windows of Los Angeles retail spaces, which have been vacated with particular urgency in high-rent districts like Melrose Place, Robertson Boulevard, and Sunset Boulevard. But the bad news for real estate could be buoyed by corporate event and pop-up hosts using those same spaces—and likewise some hosts are finding that a vacant retail space can be an efficient and attractive venue choice.
“[The high retail vacancy is] definitely encouraging me, with any event, to walk around an area I like and look at all the retail spaces as a first protocol,” said Harrison & Shriftman national creative director Ryan Jordan, who recently chose vacant retail and parking structures for the likes of Allergan’s Latisse launch, and a launch for Russian designer Kira Plastinina (whose line filed for bankruptcy just months after its U.S. debut). “They’re a lot more cost effective, and it definitely increases your bargaining power, since they're already vacant—in New York, Miami, L.A.—everywhere.”
The Beverly Center, which occasionally hosts its own promotional events, is actively shopping for corporate event and pop-up hosts. “I've been talking to New Beauty magazine about doing a pop-up store [out of which the magazine would offer relevant] seminars, maybe for a month or a couple of months. We've been talking to Los Angeles magazine about doing the same thing for the tastemakers issue. Also we’ve been working with [an animal rescue] organization to do animal adoptions [out of the space formerly occupied by a] pet store, since their lease expired, which would allow us to lease the space later,” said Steve Valentine, a publicist for the mall (which may be facing a significant new PR problem after the murder of a young rapper in daylight there on Monday).
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Pop-Ups, Y-3, Reebok, Kira Plastinina, Allergan, Latisse, New Beauty Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Paper Magazine, Campari, Kitson, Johnnie Walker |
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| NEWS 10.03.07 5:46 PM |
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Martha Wainwright Has Choice Words for Campari Crowd
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 | | Wainwright at the House of Campari. |
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Singer Martha Wainwright performed for a loud crowd last night at a party hosted by Campari in a pop-up art gallery on Broome Street. But the noise wasn't for her—it came from the guests drinking and talking in other parts of the space, which has been remade as the "House of Campari" for an art exhibit and series of parties running from September 21 until October 7.
Throughout her set, the singer looked frustrated and made some references to the people not paying attention, but she went on, graciously and professionally, singing over the din in front of 40 or 50 people. Although the paper invitation we received billed the night as "An Evening With Martha Wainwright," most guests milled around the bar and the exhibit, which also stopped in Los Angeles in June. (The Italian brand staged a similar concept on West Broadway last year.)
Then, before playing her final song, Wainwright said, smiling, "This is for all of you on the other side of the room," and sang "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole," a song from her album. Point made.
All of this prompts a few questions: If you're organizing an event that incorporates a performance and a crowd with cocktails—and purports to support artists—what respect do you owe the performer? How do you keep the crowd happy? And can you balance the needs of both?
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RELATED TOPICS
Campari, Martha Wainwright, Pop-Ups, Noisy Crowds |
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