Avi Adler transformed the Hilton New York ballroom into an elegant fall setting complete with perfect lighting, trees at their colorful peak and hundreds of carved pumpkin centerpieces for the Museum of Art and Design's Visionaries awards. Museum director Holly Hotchner, director of special events Lynn Hendricks and Melissa Feldman of MF Productions coordinated the benefit under the direction of museum chairwoman Barbara Tober.
Adler's cleverly designed silent auction area—with items like a jeweled purse balanced atop a large pumpkin—and a live auction hosted by Simon de Pury of Phillips, de Pury and Luxembourg contributed to the more than $1 million raised that evening. Adler's centerpiece decor featured large carved pumpkins displayed on top of large iron stands decorated with votive candles and berry branches. Lux Lighting projected orange and yellow pumpkin-shaped gobos onto the dance floor. And best of all, Target—known for inventive event décor and production at their own events—underwrote the entire décor costs in honor of architect, designer and Target retailing partner Michael Graves, who was one of the evening's award winners.
––David Adler
Adler's cleverly designed silent auction area—with items like a jeweled purse balanced atop a large pumpkin—and a live auction hosted by Simon de Pury of Phillips, de Pury and Luxembourg contributed to the more than $1 million raised that evening. Adler's centerpiece decor featured large carved pumpkins displayed on top of large iron stands decorated with votive candles and berry branches. Lux Lighting projected orange and yellow pumpkin-shaped gobos onto the dance floor. And best of all, Target—known for inventive event décor and production at their own events—underwrote the entire décor costs in honor of architect, designer and Target retailing partner Michael Graves, who was one of the evening's award winners.
––David Adler