Josephine Meckseper’s Times Square Oil Hunt!

06 March 2012
by Art Rubynstein

Josephine Meckseper’s Manhattan Oil Project.

It’s not every day that a marquee art installation comes to Times Square. So we couldn’t be more excited to catch Josephine Meckseper’s “Manhattan Oil Project” which she put on 46th street and 8th Avenue in collaboration with the Art Production Fund. Until May 6, two intimidating red heads will crane up and down 25 feet in search of some good, old midtown oil. Friends like James Frey, Rachel Feinstein and John Currin, Tobias Meyer, Ed Westwick, Danny Fuller and Tori Praver came to toast Meckseper at Playwright Celtic Pub across the street and many more (including millions of tourists) will do the same in next two months.

Basel’s Best in Show: Our 2011 Awards!

04 December 2011
by Art Rubynstein

Admit it, you’re little tired. This was no ordinary Basel. Every marketing guru and PR genius in America decided to spend their event budgets in Miami this year and that translated to roughly 15 events each night. Some struggled, some prospered, and many stood out. Here are our 2011 Basel citations!

Best artist cameo: Damien Hirst, who stopped by a few bashes including the Swarovski dinner, Diddy hosted Mazzucco meal at Mr. Chow, and then swallowed some glow-sticks at White Cube.

Damien Hirst (Photo: BFAnyc.com)

Art & Commerce

04 December 2011
by Art Rubynstein

If you noticed, there were more notable fashion folks lurking around open bars of Art Basel Miami Beach than big artists. Still, there were some highlights. Brits Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin both made rare pilgrimage to South Beach. German stars Anselm Reyle and Josephine Meckseper both hosted bashes for Dior. Julian Schnabel quietly made rounds, and Richard Phillips presided over a party for his Exhibition A cocktail. Here are some of other notable art cameos.

Boom Boom Basel!

27 November 2011
by Art Rubynstein

The tenth year anniversary of Art Basel Miami promises some of the finest gallery showcases to date…Who are we kidding?! You want to know about the parties, dinners, and cocktail receptions more than NADA and Pulse. Without further suspense, here’s are top bashes from the key 2011 Basel dates.

Tuesday, November 29
Dior and Gagosian will kick thing off to celebrate Anselm Reyle’s collaboration with the LVMH giant at The Moore Building in North Miami. And Dior has the week’s most ambitious party plan with its endless pop-up shop cocktails, free manicures, and free hangover breakfasts.

At Soho Beach House, Gagosian’s biggest competitor White Cube is hosting a chic casual dinner of it’s own with the biggest artists and collectors on the planet Earth, while Nadja Swarovski will host a meal in honor of the artist Erwin Redl downstairs. Aaron Young, Simon de Pury, Ron Arad, and Aurel Schmidt will all be on premises.

Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant of Vanity Fair International are teaming up Dewar’s and Donna Karan for their annual MOCA Miami blowout while, the Ferrari party with Peter Brant and Interview got so large that it’s been moved to the 1111 Lincoln Road garage (where Art Ruby hosted its bash last year). Marco Brambilla is showing his new installation at the high volume bash.

Wednesday, November 30
Still have energy? How about couple of fashion cocktail for BLK DNM (at Webster) and Bally (at the W)…Craig Robbins is hosting friends like Pharell Williams at his Star Island mansion while Dasha Zhukova and Wendi Murdoch will cook up the Art.Sy BBQ at the Soho Beach House. Interview hosts another bash tonight with Belvedere.

Thursday, December 1
In the mood for a concert? Salem is performing Gusman Center for the Performing Arts late at night, while Carlos de Souza and Vik Muniz will co-host a small cocktail at the Osklen store on Lincoln.

The main event will of course be the Aby Rosen’s annual spectacular party at the W with the dinner at The Dutch and Dom sponsored bash at the Wall that usually goes on till dawn. And everyone is coming, led by Naomi Campbell.

Friday, December 2
Bing will sponsor concerts by Theophilus London and Young the Giant at the Sanctuary Hotel, while Richard Phillips will host a bash with Exhibition A and Details at the Standard Spa on the other side of the island. Venus X will DJ at that party. Andre Balazs will host a Dzine installation with Kanon vodka few feet away.

Pringle of Scotland and Tilda Swinton cocktail re-unite this year for another big party in North Miami, while odd group of hosts like Jimmy Iovine, P. Diddy (!!!), Andy Valmorbida will come together for an awesome sounding dinner for Raphael Mazzucco at Mr. Chow. Also at the W? A nice little Emporio Armani cocktail after 10.

Saturday, December 3
Don’t know if you’ll make it till Saturday but our ping-pong buddies from Spin Galactic are hosting a wonderful party with MOCA at the Standard, while Gareth Pugh will storm into town for his own dinner with Byrdie Bell and Dewar’s.

Richard Phillips X Leo for Interview Russia

16 November 2011
by Art Rubynstein

Big magazine launches don’t happen every day, so it was momentous when Interview Russia’s editor Aliona Doletskaya asked Richard Phillips to collaborate on their debut December cover. The other involved parties were Brigitte Lacombe and a certain A-lister subject named Leonardo DiCaprio. The result? A wonderful rendition with a revived Warholian logo and Phillips’ sharp tribute to Richard Bernstein best Interview efforts.

Phillips successfully paid homage to Bernstein’s pop powers during for his Most Wanted for White Cube series last year and took his knowledge to the next step here. “For Bernstein, Interview truly was his ultimate form of expression,” said Phillips. “Although he made art before, during, and after, it was his involvement in the magazine that propelled him into the pop culture milieu. His images reprocessed and made tactile Warhol’s untouchable veneers of high art celebrity objects. And Warhol created an ever-evolving vehicle that had the potential to humanize and bring life to the celebrated individuals that made up his experiences both in his life, his work, and beyond.”

The collaboration came full circle last week when DiCaprio’s (11.11.11!) birthday present was a signed Most Wanted book by Phillips.

Peter Brant’s Art Caste Gets a New Prince in David Altmejd!

08 November 2011
by Art Rubynstein

It was a perfect weekend day in Greenwich and at The Brant Foundation Art Study Center. Crisp blue sky, perfectly catered lunch, and more floral arrangements than you can count. But most importantly those who made it to New England got a spectacular David Altmejd opening. “It’s nice to be away from Chelesa a little bit,” smiled the Canadian born Altmejd. “It’s not only because it’s Greenwich, but it also seems to be the perfect time of the year here in terms light. The air is crisp, the light if beautiful, and it feels special because we’re a little disconnected from the city.”

Well, not entirely. Most of the guests made a commute from Gotham for Altmejd and the highly spirited host, Peter Brant and no one was left disappointed. How did the artist conquer this impressive show? “I’m into energy, transformation, and growth,” he said. “Even if my bigger work feels ambitious, I really just tend to focus on the microscopic details of my sculptures. That I add up those tiny, detailed moments to add up to a gigantic landscapes of sorts.” And lots of opening day memories too…

Artists who made the Connecticut commute: Josephine Meckseper and Richard Phillips, KAWS, Marilyn Minter, and Josh Smith.

Artist who got the most non – Altmejd camera action: Urs Fischer thanks to his momentous outdoor sculpture.

Notable gallerists on premises: Altmejd’s fairy godmother Andrea Rosen, Gavin Brown, Vito Schnabel, Tony Shafrazi, just to name a few.

Unexpected celebrity cameo: Mary-Kate Olsen, Peter Brant’s good buddy who politely refused to be photographed.

Expected celebrity cameo that failed to materialize: Orlando Bloom, who was actually spotted in a pedicure salon in the city during the opening.

Coolest spotting: Tom Wolfe. We’ll take him any day.

Work of Art cast on site: China Chow and Simon de Pury

Most stylish guest: Stephanie Seymour in Alaia. Who else did you expect?

Lunch highlights: Pumpkin ravioli, organic chicken, mignon, and more Brant kids than you can count in the makeshift art cafeteria.

Best parting gift: Altmejd inspired insect cookies. We took two home.

All photos: Joe Schildhorn, Billy Farrell Agency