David & Goliaths

08 May 2011
by Art Rubynstein

It was a Saturday unlike any other this year in the city. Between the trolleys to Connecticut for the Peter Brant foundation festivities to the high powered David Salle opening at Mary Boone (and the joint dinner with Clifford Ross at Matsuri that followed) this was no sleepy weekend. Near perfect temperatures inspired a flourishing artist A-list attendance to support Salle’s tremendous show and everyone seemed to be in the good mood. Here’s the recap.

Mary Boone Salle supporters: Jeff Koons, Francesco and Alba Clemente, Richard Phillips and Josephine Meckseper, Kim Heirston Evans, Fran Lebowitz, Alex Katz, Cecily Brown, among many others.
Most refreshing Oscar winner cameo: Christopher Walken
Most excited: Mary Boone, who received plenty of great feedback for Salle’s work. “It’s his first new show in three years,” she beamed.
Familiar faces at Matsuri: Will Cotton, Rachel Feinstein and John Currin, Anh Duong, Ross Bleckner, Dana Schutz, Sante D’Orazio, Salman Rushdie, Vito Schnabel, Liz Swig, and Peggy Siegal.
Most curious accessory: Anne McNally’s blue fur collar in the early heat of May
Who needs champers? Koons and Salle went for beer with their sashimi.

Luxe Condo!

26 January 2011
by Art Rubynstein

There are few notable events happening around the world these day: Sundance in Utah, award shows in Hollywood, and couture season in Paris. And yet, George Condo’s “Mental States” exhibition opening at New Museum and the dinner that followed certainly held its own. Condo attracted big names and some major momentum gains last night. Here’s a recap.

Condo’s most devoted fan: Kanye West, who flew in for the opening from Chicago despite dealing with the sorrow from the Bears elimination from the playoffs. But Condo did the art for the West’s last album and the Grammy winner told us he wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Condos most devoted fan (runner up): Marc Jacobs who flew in from his own show from Paris on Friday and the attendance at New Museum was one of his priorities with best friend Lorenzo Martone.

Power man faces in the crowd: John Currin, Jerry Saltz, Adam Weinberg, Richard Prince, Tony Shafrazi, Bill Powers, Klaus Biesenbach, and Julian Schnabel.

While Elizabeth Olsen is dominating Sundance…Mary Kate Olsen was busy checking out every painting at the museum.

Most popular dinner item: Fries that went fast at Balthazar that were quickly downed with champagne.

Photos – Nicholas Hunt / PatrickMcMullan.com

Rob Pruitt’s 2nd Art Awards: Jarring Preview of the Oscars?!

09 December 2010
by Art Rubynstein

In case you didn’t notice, second annual Rob Pruitt’s 2010 Art Awards got downgraded this year. Despite the fact that Guggenheim Museum partnered with the artist on the project, the dinner was relegated to Webster Hall last night – one of least tolerable event spaces in all of Gotham. Calvin Klein dropped their sponsorship, and meal was prepared by Roberta’s pizzeria. Yes, creating a legitimate art ceremony is tough, but despite the obstacles, we have to give it up to Mr. Pruitt. He’s on the roll this year. Aside from this giant headache, his recent joyful collaboration with Marc Jacobs at P.S.1 was a true (albeit brief) highlight of this fall. Pruitt did everything to get people through the door last night…and plenty of amazing art faces showed (hello Marina, Marilyn, and John!). But after three hours of award-giving, Glenn O’Brien’s light jokes, and James Franco’s crooning, everyone was still as confused as ever about the meaning and relevance of the event. Here’s the recap and the full list of winners…

Most unexpected Oscar preview: This year’s Academy Award host James Franco pairing with Kalup Linzy for a little number named “Asshole” (among others). Will Kalup ever make it to the Kodak theatre?

Most expected celebrity guest: James Franco. We love you James, but we think you kind of already earned your art street cred. Does like Justin Bieber want to collaborate with Matthew Barney or something?

Biggest relief: Absence of those awful, champagne light bulb trophies from the inaugural honors.

Biggest upset: Trisha Donnelly’s (Casey Kaplan Gallery) win in the Solo Gallery Show category over power showcases in Gagosian and Gavin Brown, that also works with Pruitt by the way.

Best prop: Few naked bodies on stage, paying tribute to Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present

Biggest category domination: Jerry Saltz, who already has two of these things thanks to his supremacy in the Critic category. Next year, Linda Yablonsky.

Heath Ledger Moment Alert: Wonderful Louise Bourgeois winning the big prize of the night, posthumously despite being the favorite LAST year. Marina Abramovic was thrilled with her deserving Solo Museum Show honor.

Most red carpet ready couple: Rachel Feinstein and John Currin. Beautiful Feinstein is totally channeling Cate Blanchett lately which is a great thing.

Rob Pruitt’s 2010 Art Awards honorees:

• Artist of the Year: Louise Bourgeois
• Solo Show of the Year, Gallery: Trisha Donnelly, Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York
• Solo Show of the Year, Museum: Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present, Museum of Modern Art, New York
• Blogger or Critic of the Year: Jerry Saltz
• Curator of the Year: Chrissie Iles
• Alternative Space of the Year: Artists Space, New York
• Alternative Project of the Year: INDEPENDENT, New York
• Exhibition outside the United States: John Baldessari: Pure Beauty, Tate Modern, London (in association with Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
• Group Show of the Year, Gallery: Primary Atmospheres: Works from California 1960-1970, David Zwirner, New York
• Group Show of the Year, Museum: In & Out of Amsterdam: Travels in Conceptual Art, 1960-1976, Museum of Modern Art, New York
• New Artist of the Year: Tauba Auerbach
• The Rob Pruitt Award: Lena Dunham
• Lifetime Achievement Awards: Jonas Mekas and Martha Rosler.
• The Artist-Educator Achievement Award: Marilyn Minter.

Photo – EUGENE MIM/PatrickMcMullan.com

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.