Dia Benefit Goes Calvin Klein Cool

The two parts of the Dia Art Foundation's big benefit had two very different looks: First guests sipped cocktails in the Dia Center for the Arts' candy-colored lobby, which is covered with tiles in bright reds, yellows, blues and greens. Then they shuffled across West 22nd Street to the center's annex, where Calvin Klein Inc. decorated the dining area with the designer's signature style, creating a calm, white-on-white room. Kevin Calica, Calvin Klein's vice president and creative director of special events, brought in Modeworks to paint square, window-shaped murals inspired by the former printing facility in Beacon, New York, that will open as a new Dia museum in May 2003. Lit with square spot lights, the murals were a subtle reference to the foundation's work, and brought a focus to the room, where Glorious Food served breast of chicken with prosciutto and broiled fontina cheese, and Laurie Anderson gave a post-dinner performance.
Produced by MF Productions' Melissa Feldman, the Dia gala is big deal with A-list artists, contemporary collectors, dealers and art journalists (and one of New York's Top 100 events). The fund-raiser has also added some fashion world cache by working with clothing designers for the event's decor: After Klein designed the event four years ago, fashionable followers Donna Karan and Gucci did subsequent—and more over-the-top—stints.

—Chad Kaydo

Read our Impresario Q&A with Kevin Calica...

Read our coverage of a hair product launch at the Dia Center...