Sir Speedy of Arlington created a series of window stickers for the main doors of Arena Stage.
Photo: Courtesy of ©The Washington Business Journal
The event's signage featured a 3-D structural effect, along with the Max Mara logo; the Italian luxury brand presented the gala for the third consecutive year.
Photo: Ryan Troy/World Red Eye
At the House of Kim Crawford—a fashion-focused event on August 3 in New York—a golden balloon installation designed by Jessica Fels Event Production and Design and executed by Mixed Greens Events created an eye-catching focal point. The summery event, which also featured bottle art installations, a fortune-cookie tree, and a silhouette-artist station, was produced by Fels and Shadow.
Photo: Craig Barritt/Getty Images
For the Blaffer Art Museum’s annual gala in Houston in April, creative studio Matter designed a gilded meteor shower ceiling installation using NASA space blankets—an idea inspired by the event’s space theme, as well as the metallic trends seen on recent fashion runways.
Photo: Max Burkhalter
At Diffa Dining by Design in New York in 2015, Smartwater's space aimed to reflect the brand's natural water purification process, which is mirrored after rain clouds. The fluffy fixtures lit up like a storm above the simple table setting.
Photo: Cornelia Stiles/BizBash
The Flower Luxe's Classic Luxe flower boxes can contain white, yellow, pink, purple, or red roses, which can be arranged in patterns. The easy-to-transport arrangements can delivered locally same-day.
Photo: Courtesy of the Flower Luxe
At the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, a 3-D arrivals area evoked a vintage flower stand with bottles potted as plants and logo plaques on wooden sticks growing up from moss.
Photo: Claire Barrett Photography
During the VitaminWater Rooftop series during the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the Mint Agency created a step-and-repeat that displayed sponsor logos in antique frames.
Photo: Euan Lampitt of the Mint Agency
In April, event designers Tinsel & Twine created an ethereal balloon canopy installation for a media party introducing LeSportsac's latest bag collection at the Glasshouses in New York; the balloons were reflected in the mirrored-top tablescape.
Photo: Courtesy of LeSportsac
Chicago-based Balloons by Tommy creates a wide range of balloon decor installations, including centerpieces, arches, bouquets, sculptures, and more. For a wedding at Ovation in July, the company designed a floating wall of balloons in various sizes. Pricing ranges from $250 to $20,000, depending on the style and size of the installations.
Photo: Courtesy of Balloons by Tommy
Tanglewood's Opening Night Gala
In July, Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra located in the Berkshires, hosted its Tanglewood Opening Night Gala. The event, which raised $475,000 and was attended by 410 guests, featured oversize wreath-like installations made of greenery and cascading blooms, along with a mix of floral and herb centerpieces.
Photo: Michael Blanchard
Five Acres’ Soiree Under the Stars
Pasadena, California-based events and experiential marketing agency Innovate Marketing Group created a glam gala for local nonprofit Five Acres in June. Inspired by the historic Pasadena Gamble House, the agency designed a 1900s-theme event called “Soiree Under the Stars,” with cigar girls, vintage cars, and a jazz band. The annual fund-raiser also included silent and live auctions, a wine raffle, and a chance to win a diamond necklace.
Photo: Melissa Kobe
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Zoo Ball
The 39th annual Zoo Ball, presented by the Women's Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo, was held in Chicago in July. Dubbed “Penguins in Paradise,” the black-tie event was inspired by the endangered African penguins that will move into the zoo in the fall and featured nods to the birds, including a lemon parfait dessert with fresh berries that was accompanied by glowing penguin ornaments.
Photo: Alain Milotti
As guests entered into the Watermill Center's bamboo forest of live art installations, they were first greeted by Jacques Reynaud's "Angels of Apocalypse." Reynaud, a longtime Wilson collaborator, depicted six men as bronze statues clad in glittering bronze tunics and oversize wings; they sat atop high, hidden seats and brandished swords.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
The Bruce High Quality Foundation's "As We Lay Dying: Lecture Notes," featured twice throughout the walking path, was the only interactive installation on the grounds. Characters on hand recited words on the expansive chalkboard, and guests could also contribute their own notes, messages, or sayings. The chalkboards, set up on raised wooden platforms with seating areas, also served as a palette cleanser of sorts during the tour.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
Dubbed "House," a Christopher Knowles installation comprised four birdhouses placed throughout the woods. Each had a peephole wherein one could find paintings by the artist.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
One of the most Instagrammed moments of the night, John Margaritas's "One Ton Tank" featured a hand-poured concrete tank filled with water. The tank's windows created "an almost prismatic light effect" as a performed in a black speedo performed while being weighed down with weights.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
Located on the graveled west terrace was the Bruce High Quality Foundation's towering, 35-foot inflatable MIG fighter jet. The installation, called "A Smack and Then Nothing," as meant to project a sense of breathing despite being nose down, frozen in a point of contact into the earth. Surrounding the inflatable were performers on six high-backed platforms.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
Marianna Kavallieratos's "Far West" installation on the main west terrace featured performers with painted red faces and dark slicked back hair—some wearing diamond jewelry by returning benefit supporter Plukka.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
Two installations, both by G.T. Pellizzi, were combined inside the primary entranceway of the Watermill Center's main building. "Constellations in Red, Yellow and Blue" was featured on the walls, complementing the Bruce High Quality Foundation's "As We Lay Dying: Singing Quartet" of performers. The former featured light sculptures derived from invented cosmologies inspired by symbols found on many textiles in the Watermill Collection, while the latter featured singers rhythmically singing and breaking up the texts that have been ringing throughout the grounds.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
The foundation’s ”As We Lay Dying: She Would Come Up With Reasons" had guests meander through a field of amputated car headlights that were oscillating back and forth. Lined up facing guests and the "One Ton Tank" installation, different models of skeleton-like cars blocked the pathway and shone through the trees at dusk.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
Flanking the north end of the Watermill Center's Clementine Hunter House was Pussy Riot's "Make America Great Again" sculpture. The husband and wife artist duo Nadya Tolokonnikova and Pyotr Verzilov's political commentary featured a 1920s electric chair centered in front of a facade emblazoned with the tongue-in-cheek reference to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's slogan.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
Brian O'Mahoney's "Cats Sleep Anywhere" installation represents the artist's fourth time returning to the benefit. It showcased three performers climbing up and through a mountain of pillows atop one of the property's original south-facing sheds.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
A crisp, all-white venue set the stage for dinner. Catered by Great Performances, the meal consisted of smoked salon and baby beets with grapefruit caviar, fennel, and yogurt followed by a main course of pan-seared striped bass with yellow tomato coulis, heirloom tomato, wilted farm greens, and katchkie tabouli.
Photo: Gustavo Ponce for BizBash
Dinner concluded with a performance by Norwegian artist and vocalist Tori WrĂĄnes, who dazzled guests while suspended from the ceiling. It was followed by a dance party with DJ Mia Moretti featuring an impromptu, surprise performance by Ja Rule.
Photo: Billy Farrell Agency/BFA
Stationed near the zoo's entrance, Ugochi and the Afro Soul Ensemble sang as guests arrived.
Photo: Violet Dominek
Of the Armory gala, Monn said that he wanted guests "to experience more than just the event, but an emotion."
Photo: Courtesy of the Vendome Press
