Industrial elements dominated the Tate Americas Foundation's Artists Dinner on Wednesday. Designer David Stark used giant metallic tubes, florescent lights, and galvanized metal accents in raw event space Skylight at Moynihan Station. (The site is inside the former James A. Farley Post Office, which is being repurposed to house a new Amtrak concourse.)
But once the artists, gallery owners, fashion folks, and celebrities in attendance sat down to dinner, they found centerpieces with something decidedly softer: delicate pink flowers. Along with the galvanized metal chairs, the blooms brought a hint of the garden to an otherwise industrial setting.
Produced by MF Productions and sponsored by Dior, the dinner and after-party drew more than 650 people, among them more than 30 artist honorees, including Marina Abramovic and Alex Katz. The third triennial event (it's held every three years) raised more than $2 million to acquire works by American artists for the Tate museums in the United Kingdom.
Just two days after the Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art—now widely known at the Met Ball—with its punk theme, the evening saw more than a few guests in studded attire, as well as memorable Met guests Anne Hathaway and Sarah Jessica Parker, an honorary co-chair for Tate Americas. But the vibe and the music (from artist Jim Lambie) at the after-party was decidedly disco, more Studio 54 than CBGB.
