We can’t think of many venues in the city where you can put the lights under the floor. But that’s what planners at the Brooklyn Museum did for the museum’s annual Brooklyn ball. The third-floor Beaux-Arts Court’s opaque glass floor tiles allowed Power Posse Productions to shine 21,275 watts of red light from 37 fixtures situated on the second story through the floor, resulting in a unique, atmospheric glow.
The unusual lighting scheme enhanced the all-red dining room decor by Richard Phillips of Events Soho. Red-sequined tablecloths draped tables, and centerpieces were either groupings of red pillar candles, or clear bowls filled with water and floating red candles. Ball cochairwoman Stephanie Ingrassia conceptualized the color scheme to evoke an 80’s nightclub, thereby connecting the ball to the museum’s current blockbuster exhibition of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose career peaked in the 80’s.
“Stephanie had this wonderful idea of having red curtains in the archways, and it really took off from there. Rich Phillips did design for some clubs in the 80’s—Area was one of the clubs that we were inspired by,” said Jennifer Williford, the museum’s associate manager of special events. Museum director Arnold Lehman, vice director of development Judith Paska, and Williford oversaw the event.
Laurence Craig’s dinner included a vegetable and chèvre tart with tiger prawns and a salad with blood orange dressing as the first course, followed by herb-crusted rack of lamb with a potato and artichoke gratin. Dessert was a bittersweet chocolate soufflé with cinnamon ice cream and caramel. Following dinner, 80’s nightclub DJ Raven Fox played 70's disco and 80’s pop music for the 600 guests.
—Suzanne Ito
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The unusual lighting scheme enhanced the all-red dining room decor by Richard Phillips of Events Soho. Red-sequined tablecloths draped tables, and centerpieces were either groupings of red pillar candles, or clear bowls filled with water and floating red candles. Ball cochairwoman Stephanie Ingrassia conceptualized the color scheme to evoke an 80’s nightclub, thereby connecting the ball to the museum’s current blockbuster exhibition of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose career peaked in the 80’s.
“Stephanie had this wonderful idea of having red curtains in the archways, and it really took off from there. Rich Phillips did design for some clubs in the 80’s—Area was one of the clubs that we were inspired by,” said Jennifer Williford, the museum’s associate manager of special events. Museum director Arnold Lehman, vice director of development Judith Paska, and Williford oversaw the event.
Laurence Craig’s dinner included a vegetable and chèvre tart with tiger prawns and a salad with blood orange dressing as the first course, followed by herb-crusted rack of lamb with a potato and artichoke gratin. Dessert was a bittersweet chocolate soufflé with cinnamon ice cream and caramel. Following dinner, 80’s nightclub DJ Raven Fox played 70's disco and 80’s pop music for the 600 guests.
—Suzanne Ito
Related Stories
Brooklyn Museum Guests Walk Like Egyptians
Bulgari Lights Party From Outside

At the Brooklyn Museum’s Brooklyn ball, dinner in the Beaux-Arts Court was lit with red light that shone through the opaque glass tiles that fill the space. Power Posse Productions lit the court from the floor below.

The all-red decor scheme by Richard Phillips of Events Soho included red-sequined tablecloths, red candle centerpieces atop alternating black and red platforms, and red chairs.

Centerpieces were either groupings of red pillar candles, or clear bowls filled with water and floating red candles.

The cocktail hour was held in the fifth-floor Iris and Gerald B. Cantor Gallery. Tall highboy cocktail tables were covered with white linens and votive candles in square glass candleholders.