(Museum trustee Steve Roth, the chairman and C.E.O. of Vornado, the company that owns the building, facilitated the move to the plaza at One Beacon Court; two days later the tent housed the mob of guests for Le Cirque's preview party.)

Overseen by Jen Vitale, the museum's manager of special events, and Kim Goldsteen, the director of special events, the evening honored Terry Lundgren, the chairman, president, and C.E.O. of Federated Department Stores—and, as a result, many event chairs came from the fashion industry. The design of the benefit was the concept of Coach president and executive creative director, Reed Krakoff. He and his wife, Delphine, are serving as the museum's 75th anniversary chairs.

To contain the 500 guests (the museum hosted 400 last year), PTG Event Services custom-built the large tent. True to Krakoff's vision, the tent's interior walls were lined with large photomontage murals of the museum's exteriors and its iconic round lobby ceiling lights. The murals, produced by Coloredge Visual and hung on stretchers made by David Davis Artist Materials and Services (the museum's curatorial department suggested the company to the event staff), were complemented by a grid of 50 drum-shaped lampshades designed by Julio Flores (who also created the tables' orchid centerpieces). Hung over each dinner table, the shades echoed the repetitive circles of the lobby's lights. "The event was not physically at the Whitney," Vitale said, "but [this was a way to] bring the Whitney to the event."

Krakoff's event design extended to the table settings, which featured the company's leather goods, of course: circular leather chargers and buckle-outfitted napkin rings. This event typically takes on some form of a red, white, and blue look, and this year, there were red and white chairs mixed with neutral-colored tables and white lampshades, and the Coach-designed tote bags on each chair featured different colored handles, including pool blue. Another twist on the typical: The event, which normally raises around $1.7 million, brought in $3.1 million for the museum's exhibitions and educational programs.

—Mark Mavrigian

Posted 05.24.06

Photos: Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan Photography (tent interior, tables, waitstaff, dessert)

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