Out & About
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
The Whitney gala last night brought in more than $2 million for the museum. With partygoers dripping in silver – per order of the invitation, which specified “Silver Chic” dress for guests – it felt like a whole lot more came through the door.
But the richness of the art was the talk of the party, with seven works commissioned especially for the evening.
“We’ve never curated a gala before. It’s a great idea and a tradition worth continuing,” said the museum’s director, Adam Weinberg, before running over to pose for photos with Donald Trump and his fiancee, Melania Knauss.
“By the way, I’m not part of the art,” said the museum’s chairman, Robert Hurst, as he stood in front of a piece by Glenn Kaino. “Tonight is a celebration of the creativity in American art,” he told the crowd.
On the fashion front, women were glamorous in sleek, silver gowns, especially the gala’s chairwomen. Brooke Neidich wore Prada; Vanessa Hoermann wore Dior; Heather Mnuchin wore CD Green. A few notable exceptions: a Carolina Herrera gown with a red floral pattern on the skirt, worn by Melva Bucksbaum; a vintage dress that resembled bubble-wrap coated in silver, worn by Lisa Perry; and a brocade-like vintage jacket by Rudi Gernreich, worn by Lisa Schultz. Outstanding accessories: Kristina Stewart’s giant Dior pin and Veronique Pittman’s rubber tube necklace by Thea Tolmsa.
Men stuck to tuxedos, except for some of the artists – Cory Arcangel wore a powder-blue jacket and shorts. Speaking of blue, Charlie Scheips, who is now writing an art column for the New York Social Diary, is toying with buying a midnight blue tuxedo. “They were popular in the 1930s. Blue looks better in black-and-white photographs, and you don’t look like a waiter,” he said.
None of the trustees were mistaken for waiters. These included Thomas Lee, Joel Ehrenkranz, George Kaufman, Victor Ganzi, and Henry Louis Gates, a collector of African-American and African tribal art. “I live in a museum. I bought my first piece of African art when I was 19,” Mr. Gates said.
One of the artists Mr. Gates collects sat nearby: Glenn Ligon, who wore silver Nike sneakers to correspond with the evening’s theme. “They’re too ridiculous to go running in but perfect for a benefit,” he said.
