Rubies Galore!

02 December 2010
by Art Rubynstein

Last night marked the first ever Basel party for Art Ruby in a collaboration with The Alchemist for the biggest garage bash in Miami Basel’s history. Both of us have rubies as icons, but the car theme dominated the Level 7 of the famed Herzog & de Meuron space. Tom Sachs parked one of his engines on floor, and Zaha Hadid showcased her Z.Car for the first time in Miami. Guest gobbled up Shake Shack and Moët champagne, while enjoying Josephine Meckseper’s 0% Down projected on industrial concrete wall. Alchemist’s Erika and Roma Cohen raised the guests’ appetite for Rick Owens and Chrome Hearts, while the building’s famed architects spied on the party from their very own 8th floor penthouse. Does it get any better than that?

Basel’s Best Bashes: Part Two!

30 November 2010
by Art Rubynstein

We’ve already shared with you all of our favorite, can’t miss cocktails, dinners, and receptions (and you better believe that December 1 Alchemist x Art Ruby bash is still on top of our list!) but more champagne and vodka fueled joy keeps pouring into our mailboxes. Here are top 10 other affairs you might not want to miss!

1. Terence Koh Children of the Corn opening reception presented by Vito Schnabel. Koh’s summer Hamptons opening was a big hit, so this W must won’t disappoint on Friday.
2. Steve Martin’s art themed book reading at the W early evening of the 1st. Martin is a big collector so this is a nice little Basel sighting.Twitter alert!
3. Paper Magazine party on December 2. Pharell is performing at the Tommy Hilfiger sponsored bash so it’s worth a trip all the way to 39th street in the Design District.
4. Official W Basel welcome party on Tuesday. Just so you can schmooze with other hotel guests who spent $1,200+ a night on the fair’s greatest and mightiest hotel.
5. Bruce Weber’s book signing at The Standard on the 2nd. Who doesn’t love that happy little bear?
6. Bass Museum presents the work of Isaac Julien on the 1st. Lots of Grey Goose vodka to go with model filled Russian artist installation? Sounds awesome…
7. DJ Ruckus and Paul Oakenfold at the Wall late night on December 1. How can you resist even if it means beating the models and bottles crowd for the best spot in the room?
8. Swarovski Crystal Palace book launch & Cocktail with Nadja Swarovski at the Webster on December 2. Because we like everything that’s shiny!
9. Chloe Fashion Show on December 4 at Soho Beach House. For those of you who actually worked during Paris Fashion Week.
10. Annual ArtNexus Annual Art Basel Party at ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa. It’s a happy, rowdy crowd and they got shipments of Grey Goose to make things that much merrier on the 3rd.

The Best Gems of Basel: Where You’ll Party This Week!

25 November 2010
by Art Rubynstein

Sure, we all travel to Miami every December for the billion-dollar gallery maze at the Convention Center…and NADA, Seven, Ink, Pulse, and other wonderfully random fairs and exhibits. But who are we kidding?! All you really want to know is where the best parties are, right? Well, without further ado, here’s where you need to be eating, drinking, and getting Aby Rosen’s business card come next Tuesday.

November 30

Melissa bash at the Webster to celebrate a collaboration between the Brazilian plastic shoe giant and Italian Architect Gaetano Pesce. Lorenzo Martone is a co-host, so expect a lively, happy group to start your week of right.

The Jonathan Meese exhibit opens with the bash at MOCA (it’s worth the $35 cab ride). Bruce Weber will be on premises (his Little Haiti show opened few weeks ago at the institution) along with Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant. And all the hosts are very satisfied about the commutes this year. Why? Because Sischy and Brant usually stay at Weber’s home while in Miami.

Andre Balazs celebrates the US sea launch of The Aquariva, designed by Marc Newson at the Standard. The week’s favored (and often naughty) spa oasis will host plenty of bashes, but this is a nice little early evening tune up.

Nadja Swarovski and Craig Robbins celebrate Swarovski Crystal Palace and Design Miami with a big dinner at SoHo beach house. Do you remember Robbins’ BBQ feast at his house to celebrate the start of Basel? We sure do. Kim Heirston and Doreen Remen already booked their seats.

Loca for MOCA

15 November 2010
by Art Rubynstein

Kate Bosworth, Francesco Vezzoli

For all the art benefits, galas, cocktails, and house dinners we have here in New York, the fall MOCA gala seems to be the only big bash on the mind of the Angelenos who have a Koons in their living room. The 31st edition of the event didn’t feature cameos by Lady Gaga or Angelina and Brad in the cocktail hour (like the last year’s big splash), but the event still pulled in $3 million, plenty of iconic artists, and Chanel accessorized starlets (the brand was the night’s big fashion sponsor). Doug Aitken designed this year’s gala while newly re-branded Californian welcomed the big spenders with hugs and smiles. Here’s who made an impression on the West Coast’s biggest art date of the year.

Artists who flew into LAX: Frank Gehry, Jeff Koons, and Ed Ruscha were the night’s biggest knights

Obligatory celebs: Kirsten Dunst, Rachel Bilson, Chloë Sevigny, Mila Kunis, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, a yes…art loving Will Ferell.

Other notables: Michael Chow, Vera Wang, Brian Grazer, and Kate and Laura Mulleavy.

Performers faced with the task of succeeding Lady Gaga: Beck, Caetano Veloso, and Devendra Banhart

Worst idea for the first course: A “hearty” plate of iceberg lettuce

Most surprising auctioneers: A chorus of hustling, loud, endearing formers (and ode to Aitken’s 2007 work at MoMA called “happening”)

Biggest flub: Co-chair Maria Bell who accidentally misspoke that the event raised $300 million on stage, to the gasp of the crowd. She quickly corrected herself.

Inside Art Ruby’s Richard Phillips Spectacular

28 April 2010
by Art Rubynstein

There always comes a time for the very first dinner party, and ART RUBY’s premiere big bash took place this week in New York. We happily hosted an evening at The Lion to celebrate Richard Phillips, one of our very favorite artists who’s having one hell of a spring. Phillips co-curated Your History is Not Our History exhibit with David Salle (that closes at Haunch of Venison on Friday) and is part of the group showing at the Swiss Institute that will unveil on May 5.  Both Salle and our honoree made it out to West Village last night and even playfully posed with a custom crystallized Moët et Chandon bottle that celebrated their superior wrangling skills and many sleepless hours. Phillips’ better half Josephine Meckseper (who’s a big hit at The Whitey Biennial this time around) was of course there to support her favorite man.

In fact, it was a big night for golden artist couples like Rachel Feinstein and John Currin and Lisa Yuskavage and Matvey Levinstein all came by to toast good friend Phillips with pink champagne, lobster bisque, pan seared sea bass and filet mignon. Others gallery certified guests at the tables of yet unopened eatery included Tom Sachs and Gagosian’s Sarah Hoover, Sean Landers,  Les Rogers, and frequent Art Box contributor Todd DiCiurcio who was accompanied by his lovely wife Megan. There was table hopping, appetizer sharing, and lots of mutual admiration.

Beyond the artists and the gallerinas, other ART RUBY supporters included actress Melissa George with director husband Claudio Dabed,  Jimmy Choo czarina Tamara Mellon, Waris Ahluwalia, Emma Hall, Casey Fremont, Lorenzo Martone, designers Claude Morais and Brian Wolk (of Ruffian), Prabal Gurung, and wild card dinner seatmate Oksana Baiul. Yes, the one that beat Nancy Kerrigan when you still owned a Walkman in 1994.  Artistically inclined surfer and model pair of Danny Fuller and Tori Praver fully enjoyed their dessert of Art Ruby velvet cupcakes and Phillips’ sweet toast to his buddies and our little site.  Until the next dinner and honoree, we hope you enjoy our favorite images from last night’s event.

Lovely, Looney Koons

04 February 2010
by Art Rubynstein

Forget the ultra, super duper VIP preview at the Basel. Nothing gets more exclusive than a Thomas Keller catered party at Jeff Koons‘ West 29th street studio.  The mega Chelsea star hosted the event to celebrate his collaboration with BMW, making him the 17th artist to join the illustrious list of Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, Alexander Calder, and the latest creative mind to receive a big check: Olafur Eliasson. Sure, Keller’s glittered macaroons were exquisite and this collaboration thing is nice and all but we were just happy to get a sneak peak at Koons’ exciting factory. Art Box and other recognizable faces like Klaus Biesenbach, Yvonne Force Villareal, Ingrid Sichy and Sandy Brant got to see plenty of Bettie Pages and Popeyes, all meticulously organized with color palettes for some of dozens of Koons land assistants.  The most colorful and striking image of Miss Page was almost ready to be shipped to a private buyer (perhaps one of the Russian collectors circling the room like an eagle) and the rest are due at Jeff’s next big show that may well be more than sixteen months away.  Until then, clear your walls. These canvases are not for amateurs.

© BILLY FARRELL/PatrickMcMullan.com