The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation held its first Art for Life Palm Beach fund-raiser at Donald Trump's opulent Mar-a-Lago estate. A celebrity-studded crowd attended the gala, which included dinner and an auction in the grand ballroom—the very same one used for Trump's wedding reception, but the decor was a bit different this time around.
Ellen Haddigan, the foundation's executive director, worked with Anthony Lyons from Sutka Productions to create a night that put the art—and the stars—on display. Among the guests were Donald and Melania Trump, Joseph Simmons of Run-DMC, Star Jones Reynolds, and Serena and Venus Williams.
Kimora Lee Simmons served as M.C. for the event, honoring Sean "P. Diddy" Combs for his support of public education and his dedication to youth and social activism. The cocktail reception was held around the pool. The area was dotted with tables dressed in hot pink linens and topped with clear photo cubes displaying drawings from Rush's child artists in New York. Hip-hop and Motown tunes played in the background. Guests munched on hors d'oeuvres and sipped cocktails and champagne, while chatting with the models in hot pink mermaid costumes who flanked the pool.
On the way to the ballroom guests encountered three mimes in bright orange costumes acting as painters and musicians. Before entering the dining area, attendees mingled in an open space that had been turned into a rose-colored lounge with pink furniture and pillows—even the bar was pink.
When guests entered the ballroom, they were greeted once again by the mermaid-costumed models—but this time they were suspended from the ceiling on trapezes. The entire ballroom was decorated in hot pink and orange. All the tables were dressed in alternating colors, but each featured a different centerpiece of the same tones such as faux fur orbs atop metal rods, glass candelabras, and clear vases filled with lilies.
Mar-a-Lago catered the event and first presented an array of hors d'oeuvres. Stacked plates and silverware sat atop two tables on either side of the room, one decorated with a replica statue of Michelangelo's David holding a pink painter's palette adorned with flowers and the other with Venus de Milo and palette.
For dessert, mounds of Godiva truffles lined a long table at one end of the ballroom. The paintings and chandeliers surrounding the table looked good enough to eat, and guests could have—they too were made of chocolate by Larry Abel / De-signs.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Ellen Haddigan, the foundation's executive director, worked with Anthony Lyons from Sutka Productions to create a night that put the art—and the stars—on display. Among the guests were Donald and Melania Trump, Joseph Simmons of Run-DMC, Star Jones Reynolds, and Serena and Venus Williams.
Kimora Lee Simmons served as M.C. for the event, honoring Sean "P. Diddy" Combs for his support of public education and his dedication to youth and social activism. The cocktail reception was held around the pool. The area was dotted with tables dressed in hot pink linens and topped with clear photo cubes displaying drawings from Rush's child artists in New York. Hip-hop and Motown tunes played in the background. Guests munched on hors d'oeuvres and sipped cocktails and champagne, while chatting with the models in hot pink mermaid costumes who flanked the pool.
On the way to the ballroom guests encountered three mimes in bright orange costumes acting as painters and musicians. Before entering the dining area, attendees mingled in an open space that had been turned into a rose-colored lounge with pink furniture and pillows—even the bar was pink.
When guests entered the ballroom, they were greeted once again by the mermaid-costumed models—but this time they were suspended from the ceiling on trapezes. The entire ballroom was decorated in hot pink and orange. All the tables were dressed in alternating colors, but each featured a different centerpiece of the same tones such as faux fur orbs atop metal rods, glass candelabras, and clear vases filled with lilies.
Mar-a-Lago catered the event and first presented an array of hors d'oeuvres. Stacked plates and silverware sat atop two tables on either side of the room, one decorated with a replica statue of Michelangelo's David holding a pink painter's palette adorned with flowers and the other with Venus de Milo and palette.
For dessert, mounds of Godiva truffles lined a long table at one end of the ballroom. The paintings and chandeliers surrounding the table looked good enough to eat, and guests could have—they too were made of chocolate by Larry Abel / De-signs.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Sutka Productions created a pink and orange wonderland for the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation's Art for Life Palm Beach benefit.
A statue of Michelangelo's David holding an artist's palette graced one of the tables.
Mermaids, who greeted guests into the ballroom, were sitting on trapezes suspended from the ceiling.
Godiva truffles were arranged on a dessert table that also featured artwork and chandeliers made out of chocolate by Larry Abel / De-signs.
