With the James Rosenquist retrospective lining the walls, it was only fitting that the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum used Pop Art as the theme of its major fund-raiser this year. The event honored Rosenquist and treated guests to an extravaganza of Mod-looking color, graphics and entertainment.
After cocktails in the museum's rotunda, dinner—prepared by Restaurant Associates with a menu by guest chef Eric Ripert—was held in a tent designed by Starr Tents erected along Fifth Avenue. Inside, Antony Todd upholstered the tent's ceiling and sides with black-and-white stripes and suspended square Lucite trays filled with pink colored candles. Tables were mixed up—white canvas-covered tables had black chairs and black canvas-covered tables had white chairs. Floral designs were also varied. Lucite chandeliers with black and clear discs and a pink gerbera daisy topiary hung over some tables. Lucite towers—a three-tier arrangement of trays filled with water, candles and flowers that got smaller at the top—decorated others.
Gina Rogak, the museum's director of special events, took inspiration from the Pop Art heyday, the 60's, making the most of the opportunity to tie in witty color, music, costume and decor. For the live auction, hot pink noisemakers shaped like hands (produced by Joe Rapp) and printed with the word "Pop" on it were attached to the bidding forms.
After dinner, back in the rotunda, Abba tribute band Bjorn Again was brought in to entertained the crowd followed by an "Homage to Pop" produced by the Jackie Factory: a troupe of performers dressed in 60's gear mingled with guests, go-go danced, along with the obligatory drag queens. There was also a photo shoot reminiscent of the Antonioni film Blow Up and Warhol-inspired characters interviewing and photographing guests.
—Mark Mavrigian
Photos by Virginie Blachere, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
After cocktails in the museum's rotunda, dinner—prepared by Restaurant Associates with a menu by guest chef Eric Ripert—was held in a tent designed by Starr Tents erected along Fifth Avenue. Inside, Antony Todd upholstered the tent's ceiling and sides with black-and-white stripes and suspended square Lucite trays filled with pink colored candles. Tables were mixed up—white canvas-covered tables had black chairs and black canvas-covered tables had white chairs. Floral designs were also varied. Lucite chandeliers with black and clear discs and a pink gerbera daisy topiary hung over some tables. Lucite towers—a three-tier arrangement of trays filled with water, candles and flowers that got smaller at the top—decorated others.
Gina Rogak, the museum's director of special events, took inspiration from the Pop Art heyday, the 60's, making the most of the opportunity to tie in witty color, music, costume and decor. For the live auction, hot pink noisemakers shaped like hands (produced by Joe Rapp) and printed with the word "Pop" on it were attached to the bidding forms.
After dinner, back in the rotunda, Abba tribute band Bjorn Again was brought in to entertained the crowd followed by an "Homage to Pop" produced by the Jackie Factory: a troupe of performers dressed in 60's gear mingled with guests, go-go danced, along with the obligatory drag queens. There was also a photo shoot reminiscent of the Antonioni film Blow Up and Warhol-inspired characters interviewing and photographing guests.
—Mark Mavrigian
Photos by Virginie Blachere, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation