The Sculpture Center has a reputation for incorporating innovative, artistic effects into its biggest annual benefit, providing fresh, interesting takes on aspects such as decor and entertainment, and last Friday's gala to honor Austrian artist Franz West was no exception. Even though West fell ill and could not attend the event, that didn't stop his presence from being felt in a few different ways.
Echoing the honoree’s interactive work, the center invited artist Michael Mahalchick to create handmade napkins at each place setting that doubled as one-of-a-kind signed artworks. Mahalchick stitched cutout fabric shapes onto the linens, with scraps ranging from zebra and paisley prints to solid colors and black-and-white toile.
Mahalchick also created a performance piece, “The Adaptable Line,” that served as dinner entertainment and challenged viewers’ perceptions of fashion. Projections of various supporters of the center appeared on the wall, each dressed in their own clothes. Models wore these same garments in unusual ways as reinterpreted by the artist, with pieces wrapped or draped on wrists or ankles, or placed on parts of the body that they would not ordinarily be worn. For example, a canvas jumpsuit became a hooded cloak.
Mary Ceruti, the Sculpture Center's executive director, and Mary Button, the director of marketing, communications, and events oversaw the gala, with coordination from McEvoy & Associates.
