Big Time in Brooklyn

29 April 2011
by Art Rubynstein

Brooklyn Museum’s Artists Ball always manages to surprise and amuse on many different levels and Wednesday’s gala was no exception. The focus this years was on the local artists (or rather the astounding dinner tables they each curated for the evening.) And oh yeah, Sarah Jessica Parker and Liv Tyler showed up as well. Here are the highlights:

Brief but welcome cameo: Sarah Jessica Parker who schmoozed for 15 minutes before rushing out to a Broadway opening in midtown to join her husband.

Most unlikely best friends: Liv Tyler and Dustin Yellin, who’ve known each other forever. “And everytime I come to visit Dustin in his Brooklyn studio, I feel like I’m on vacation,” smiled Tyler. “It’s all very chill here.”

Best table installation: That honor also goes to Yellin, who managed to create a gorgeous, peaceful cube series just for the event. “Hopefully these things will go somewhere great or join a museum collection,” the artist told us.

Artists galore: Mickalene Thomas, Fred Tomaselli, Fred Wilson, Lorna Simpson, Shinique Smith, Sara VanDerBeek, Aleksandar Duravcevic, Valerie Hegarty among many others

Most welcome random guest: One of the Winklevoss twins (you tell us which one was it!)

Most appealing suit: Bo Joseph printed black and white sensations

Best moment: A guest accidentally broke a glass right in front of Liv Tyler during the cocktail hour. Her response? “Mazel Tov!”

Photos – Nicholas Hunt / PatrickMcMullan.com