Party Pictures 10/17/03 - American Celtic Ball, Kaleidoscope, Ingrao Antiques, Carmen D'Alessio

15th annual American Celtic Ball

Rod Gunner, Thomas Trautmann, and Steven Murphy

John McCabe, Michael Flatley, Lisa Murphy, and Kathleen McCabe

A few Wednesday’s ago, the Ireland chamber of commerce in the USA held its 15th American Celtic Ball 2003 bestowing Michael Flatley “Lord of the Dance” with the Arts & Entertainment Award.

Guests of Honor were Dermot F. Desmond, Chairman of IIU (International Investment & Underwriters) Ltd., (Dublin, Ireland); Patrick J. Moore, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation; Michael D. O'Halleran, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aon Corporation. The Keynote Speaker was The Honorable Mary Harney, Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste) and Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland).

Dermot Desmond, Michael Flatley, Patrick Moore, and Michael O'Halleran

Also in attendance: Senator Chuck Schumer, Diarmuid M. Hogan, President of Global Excess Partners, Denis O'Brien, Chairman, Gigicel, Marin J. Sullivan, COO, Vice Chairman of American International Group, Patrick J. McDonough, Managing Partner of Morgan Stanley, Bill Fugazy, NECO, Representatives of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to dinner, dancing and entertainment (courtesy of violinist Gregory Harrington and soprano Maire O'Brieen), there was a silent auction.

Proceeds of the silent auction were donated to the Boys Hope Girls Hope, an organization that provides long-term solutions to the critical needs of today's promising youth at risk in intolerable family or community settings. ICCUSA serves over 8,000 members from both large and small companies in the American and Irish business communities involved in the pursuit of international trade.

Michael O'Halleran, Dennis Kane, and Michael Smurfit

Michael Flatley and Mary Harney

Mark Simone and Margo Catsimatidis

Don Keog, Dermont Hogan, and Michael O'Halleran

Photographs by Richard Oris/ Patrick McMullan Photography

Preview of Kaleidoscope at Ingrao Antiques

Randy Kemper and Tony Ingrao

Marty Richards

Wednesday night, October 8th, over at Ingrao Antiques and Fine Art on 17 East 64 Street, they held a private preview of Kaleidoscope, a show featuring the works of four emerging contemporary artists, Adam Cvijanovic, Marit Følsted, Natasha Law and Christine Nachmann.

Ms. Law, sister of the well-known actor Jude Law, is showing silhouetted semi-nudes created with household gloss on metal panels that suggest both intimacy and independence. Her first major exhibition at the Art Space Gallery in London sold out and her work has appeared in The London Times.

New York based artist Adam Cvijanovic is showing a selection of landscape murals. Inspired by Zuber wallpaper, Cvijanovic uses materials from oil to tempera and has developed a system that allows the client to mix and match panels from within each series. The artist’s works are in the collection of photographer Henry Buhl among others.

Adam Cvijanovic and Natasha Law

Marit Følstad is a Norwegian mixed media artist who has created a site-specific video installation for Kaleidoscope. “I am interested in the juxtaposition between my work and the context in which it will be viewed," Følstad comments. Følstad has exhibited throughout the world and her work is in many public collections in Norway.

South African based photographer Christine Nachmann will show large-scale photography that explores landscape and nature. Her search for a more authentic visual language led her to Zen Buddhism, a process that has influenced and shaped her photographic vision. “Meditation teaches me awareness, it teaches me to really see what is in front of me, rather than my ideas and concepts of what I think I see. Zen helps me to look at the world with fresh eyes.”

Kim Cattrall and Natasha Law

The show was curated by Blair Clarke, an independent curator and founder of Voltz Clarke LLC, a company which focuses on garnering exposure for contemporary artists through private consultation and public exhibitions, as well as introducing international artists to the US market. More info can be found at www.voltzclarke.com

Ingrao Antiques and Fine Art was founded by interior designer and collector Tony Ingrao last year. It showcases 17th-century through 20th-century antiques alongside cutting-edge contemporary artwork within a stunning minimalist setting. Ingrao, and creative director, Randolph Kemper, created a luminous three-floor space in a landmark town house in which each exhibited object is accented against the simplicity of a sleek monochromatic backdrop. Jennifer Olshin is the Gallery Director, formerly a Specialist in Furniture and Vice President of Appraisals at Christie’s.