Avon Cultivates Garden Setting for Awards

The cosmetic company’s foundation brought outdoor greenery inside the New York State Theater for a dinner with a baroque-style gated entry, paper lanterns, and soft green lighting.

November 1, 2006
For the dinner portion of the Avon Foundation’s annual awards, H. DeVinn Visual transformed the New York State Theater’s Grand Promenade into a modern garden inspired by interior designer Dorothy Draper. To do it, H. DeVinn Bruce laser-cut large sheets of gatorboard into a lightweight gate (in imitation of a traditional garden entryway) and placed smaller, similarly shaped sconces along the venue’s north wall. Artificial trees in green planters dotted the space, and faux hedges sat at each side of the gate. Black and white patterned linens covered each of the 52 tables (as well as the chairs), and for centerpieces paper lanterns on clear acrylic rods stood above clusters of pink carnations.Cicely Wootan, the foundation's program development coordinator, planned and managed the 600-person event, which was hosted by Avon Products Inc. chairman and C.E.O. Andrea Jung and foundation president Robert Corti. The evening’s silent auction, cocktails, and dinner were followed by the awards presentation, as well as a performance by American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino. Among the guests were figure skaters Sarah and Emily Hughes, Primetime co-anchor John Quiñones, and rapper Missy Elliott.

—Anna Sekula

Posted 11.01.06

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The Dorothy Draper-inspired decor for the Avon Foundation awards in the New York State Theater’s Grand Promenade mimicked an outdoor garden.
The Dorothy Draper-inspired decor for the Avon Foundation awards in the New York State Theater’s Grand Promenade mimicked an outdoor garden.
The entryway to the dinner area was marked by a baroque-style garden gate structure flanked by artificial hedges.
The entryway to the dinner area was marked by a baroque-style garden gate structure flanked by artificial hedges.
Paper lanterns on clear acrylic rods and short arrangements of pink carnations comprised each table’s centerpiece.
Paper lanterns on clear acrylic rods and short arrangements of pink carnations comprised each table’s centerpiece.
A row of paper lanterns hanging from curvy sconces added a whimsical element to the events modern look.
A row of paper lanterns hanging from curvy sconces added a whimsical element to the events modern look.
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