Party Pictures 10/27/03 - Whitney Museum of American Art's annual fall gala

The Whitney Museum of American Art's annual fall gala

Andrea and John Stark

Alexandra von Furstenberg and Tim Jeffries

Deborah Norville and Clarissa Bronfman

Felicia Taylor and Jacqueline Anderson

More than 500 turned out for the Whitney Museum of American Art’s annual fall gala last Monday night with a tribute to artist Ellsworth Kelly in celebration of his 80th birthday. The theme was RED, (as opposed to last year’s theme which was BLACK AND WHITE. Which meant Red ruled, and as designed by Colin Cowie, it was an even hotter fashion/glamorous evening than last year’s.

The Gala Chairmen were Susan and John Hess; Evelyn and Leonard Lauder; Sir Evelyn and Lady de Rothschild; Dinner Chairmen were Burberry’s Chief Executive Rose Marie Bravo and Richard Santulli, Chairman of Netjets. The evening raised more than $2 million.

Dipping at the after-party

The dining room was a palette of grey on grey with an artery of sexy, red patent leather. The flowers were carnations, “paveed” within the patent leather or floating in the grey Lucite boxes. Every detail continued down to the plates, knives, forks, and even the colors of the food. Lighting designer Bentley Meeker, collaborated with a white and silver tapestry of light on the walls. The culinary talents of chef Geoffrey Zakarian of Town Restaurant with Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs served up a Roasted Lamb Shank with orange-scented Eggplant Salad.

The evening started with cocktails and dinner with a special performance by legendary songstress Dionne Warwick who opened her repertoire with “Happy Birthday” to Kelly. Warwick followed with a few of her greatest hits including “Alfie‚” and “That’s What Friends Are For,” which ended in a standing ovation.

After dinner was the traditional after-party with hundreds of younger guests joining in with dancing in the Robert J. Hurst Family Gallery with music spun by DJ Kemedji that continued through midnight.

Guests dressed in “Ravishing Red and Black Tie” included Hilary Swank, Paula Zahn and Richard Cohen, Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon, Stephanie Seymour and Peter Brandt, Vera Wang and Arthur Becker, Lisa Jackson, Beth Rudin de Woody, Clarissa and Edgar Bronfman Jr., Claudia Cohen, Jacqueline and Max Anderson, Carolina Herrera, Henry and Marie Josee Kravis, Phyllis George, David and Julia Koch, Mariana and George Kaufman, Sugar Rautbord, David and Kristina Wasserman, Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo, Sandi and Andrew Farkas, Paul and Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Angel Sanchez, Anne Bass, Samantha Boardman, Bob Colacello, Alex von Furstenberg with her new amour, Tim Jeffries, Jonathan Tisch, Lynn Witfield, Deborah Norville, David and Helen Gurley Brown, Gigi and Avy Mortimer, Michael Nouri, and president of the Whitney Robert Hurst with his new wife Soledad Deleon Hurst.

Sponsors were American Express, Mrs. Randolph Hearst, Laurie Tisch Sussman, Ciroc Snap Frost Vodka, Johnny Walker Black Label, No. Ten by Tanqueray.