Salvador Dali's Persistence of Time at the The Americans for The Arts National Arts Awards gala
The World Monuments Fund (WMF) presented its annual Hadrian Award to His Highness Maharaja Gajsinghji II of Jodhpur (the Maharajah of Jodhpur) at a luncheon at the Pierre. His Highness was being recognized for his extraordinary efforts to restore and protect India’s architectural and cultural patrimony. His projects have been wide-ranging including converting his family’s Umaid Bhawan Palace and the 15th century Mehrangarh Fort into a top ranked hotel and museum, raising the awareness of the importance of environmental conservation, and creating a number of charitable and educational foundations.
The Maharaja became Jodhpur’s Prince of the Realm at the age of four. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He returned to India in 1970 just before a constitutional amendment terminated the privy purses and privileges of all the rulers of former Indian states, and went to work promoting tourism and creating charitable foundations ranging from medical care to community empowerment. His main interest has been heritage conservation. His palace and fort have attracted more than a half million visitors and is recognized as one of India’s best managed sites.
Ronem Sen, Ambassador of India to the United States presented the Hadrian Award to the Maharaja. Co-chairs were the News Corporation (Rupert Murdoch) and Sangita Jindal. Steering committee: Brook Berlind, Joan Hardy Clark, Barbara Gimbel, Fernanda Kellogg, Pallavi Shah. Among those attending the luncheon: Paul Beirne, Marilyn Perry (Chairman of the WMF), Bonnie Burnham (WMF President), Brook and Roger Berlind, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Blau, Ambassador W. L. Lyons and Alice Cary Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Butler, Giosetta Capriati, Adele Chatfield-Taylor, Amita Chatterjee, Payal and Reajiv Chaudri, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Katie Ridder and Peter Pennoyer, Kathy and Billy Rayner, Andrew Solomon, Denise Saul, Robert Couturier, Catherine Curran, Joan Davidson, Mica Ertegun, Elizabeth Fondaras, Kirk Henckels and Fernanda Kellogg, Mary McFadden, John Dobkin, Elizabeth Stafford, Samuel and Rosetta Miller, Barbara de Portago, Michele Oka Doner, Gayle Hayman, Gita Mehta, Christopher Mason.
L. to r.: Beth DeWoody; Edward Wagner and Rahul Basu; Brook and Roger Berlind.
Giosetta Capriati and Alain Morvan
His Highness Maharaja Gajsinghji II and Bonnie Burnham
His Highness Maharaja Gajsinghji II and Ambassador Ronem Sen
Emily Rafferty and Pallavi Shah
Kalpana Sen and Amita Baig
Immaculata von habsburg and Denise Saul
June Dyson, Bob Gatjei, and Susan Witter
Judy Mendellson, Jack Weeden, and David Davies
Alice Cary Brown and Ambassador W.L. Lyons Brown
Michelle Oka Doner and Patricia Shay
Pallavi Shah, Mary McFadden, and Mimi Stafford
L. to r.: Madeline Weinrib and friend; Pamela Fiori with April and Roddy Gow; Katie Ridder and Peter Pennoyer.
Catherine Cahil, Ann Nitze, and Mary McFadden
Fernanda Kellogg and His Highness Maharaja Gajsinghji II
Kathy Rayner, Barbara De Portago, Alexis Gregory, and Victoria Wyman
His Highness Maharaja Gajsinghji II, Rajika Puri, and Chris Walling
Kevin Hurley, Marilyn Perry, and Barbra Chayler
Kimberly Page, Payal Chaudri, and friends
The Americans for The Arts National Arts Awards gala was a glittering affair this year, at Cipriani 42 St -- honoring artists Jake Gyllenhaal, Aretha Franklin, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Jeff Koons and philanthropic leaders Sheila Johnson and George David, chairman and CO of United Technologies Corp. That roster filled the monumental room with a stellar New York crowd.
Maria Bell, the art collector and patron chaired the event for the second year, raising more than $1 million. Stephanie Seymour and Peter Brant, Edythe and Eli Broad, Lietta and Dakis Joannou, Samantha and Aby Rosen were co-chairs; Target Corporation, corporate chair; Steven D. Spiess, chair, Americans for the Arts Board of Directors.
The foundation functions on a macro and grass roots level. Two current partnership projects are with Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute to bolster flagging arts philanthropy and with national education organizations to focus on arts during the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind legislation. Americans for the Arts also works to create public awareness via large scale marketing campaigns.
Robert Downey Jr., toned and trim to began shooting his upcoming role as “Iron Man,” charmed all, clowning with Gyllenhaal for photographers. Downey told the room, “no one at my table is wearing underwear,” as he presented his Gyllenhaal with the Young Artist Award. Harvey Weinstein came with Aretha Franklin, Jane Alexander came with John Brademas, (who said they were “co-conspirators for the arts”) Mario Cuomo came with Matilda, and Ronald Perelman came ... alone! (and all the girls noticed).
Other guests included artists William Wegman, Christo and Jean-Claude, Ed Sherrin, Naomi Foner and Stephen Gyllenhaal, Karolina Korkova, Walter Mosley, Sarah Vowell, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Dave Eggers, Project Runway's Tim Gunn, Victoria Rowell, John Baldessari, Patricia and Peter DeVisscher, Danielle and David Ganek, Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro, Angela Susan Anton and Dr. Max Gomez, Henri Barguirdjian, Barbara and Bruce Winston, Jonathan Tisch, Nathalie and Charles de Gunzburg, Ara and Rachel Hovnanian, Simon de Pury, Julie and Edward Minskoff, Felicia Taylor, George David, Peggy Race.
Bill Bell, Maria Bell, and Tim Gunn
Christo and Jean Claude
Cynthia Dinkins and Jake Gyllenhaal
Jeff Koons at his lobster podium
John Baldessari
Kitty Carlise Hart
Paul Hale and Robin Bell
Steven D. Spiess, Shelia Johnson, and Cynthia Dinkins
Lance Armstrong
Stacey Ann Chin and Walter Mosley
Victoria Rowell
Susan Angela Anton and Peggy Race
Mario Cuomo, Aretha Franklin, and Matilda Cuomo
Robert Downey Jr. and Jake Gyllenhaal
Marie Douglas-David and George David with Maria Bell and Robert Lynch
Eli Broad and Jeff Koons
Mario Cuomo and Kitty Carslie Hart
Robert Lynch and Robert Mosley
Ann and Bill van Ness threw open the doors of their townhouse and garden for a “warm-up” in dancer parlance for the Career Transitions for Dancers 21st Jubilee this year titled One World, A Spectacular Global Celebration which was staged on October 23 at City Center.
Rolex USA, continuing their long term commitment, was once again the presenting sponsor. President and CEO Allen Brill was on hand to toast the co-chairs and committees including Anniversary co-chairs Anka Palitz and Patricia Kennedy along with Mercedes Ellington, Janice Becker, Yolanda Santos Garza, and Laura Zeckendorf.
Brill introduced Ann Marie De Angelo who directed and produced the onstage performance of artists from over 20 culturally diverse dance troupes from The Joffrey to Dance China NY to Ballet de Monterrey. There were also guest appearances by James Earl Jones, Bebe Neuwrith, Sutton Foster, and Rosie O’Donnell.
Belinda Bush with hosts Ann and Bill Van Ness
Eric Lewis
Ann Marie DeAngelo and Allen Brill
Liza Minnelli presented the Rolex award to her old pal the incomparable Chita Rivera who’s never had a need for Career Transitions for Dancers who help dancers find new careers when dance is no longer an option. Rivera will never stop those high kicks.
Philanthropist and oft time producer the elegant Patricia Kennedy who saved the Joffrey from ruin by commissioning no less than Prince to create with Joffrey Ballet co-founder Gerald Arpino the wildly – both critically and commercially – successful ballet Billboards, is hoping to make onstage magic once again. with the collaboration between Eric Lewis and The Joffrey on a new ballet Puerto Rico, she has commissioned which will premier in the Joffrey’s 2007 season. One Word gala attendees will get a sneak peek at the piece courtesy of Lewis and Luna Negra Dance Theater.
Ms. Kennedy, skipped the Paris shows – she’s a regular at Lacroix and Chanel – to be on hand to introduce her discovery to the dance world greats. The indefatigable patron is also putting the finishing touches on a jewelry collection celebrating diversity and tolerance with a message of peace and hope which she plans to have in stores next season.
As a onetime actress, dancer and model, Kennedy who made her name in important Beverly Hills real estate development, is passionate about the work of CTFD and kept her promise to everyone the most dazzling evening ever.
VDenise Jefferson, Kent Drake, Mercedes Ellington, and CTFD President Cynthia Fischer
Yolanda Santos Garza, Laura Zeckendorf, Virginia Johnson, Cynthia Fischer, Ann Van Ness, and Janice Becker
Bruce Michael and Kevin McAnarney
Janice Becker and Patricia Kennedy
Janice Becker and Alexander Dube
Kent Drake and Mercedes Ellington
Patricia Kennedy, Eric Lewis, and Anka Palitz
Ann and Bill Van Ness
Janice Becker and Laura Zeckendorf
Cynthia Fischer and Virginia Johnson
Mercedes Ellington, Anka Palitz, Allen Brill, Ann Marie DeAngelo, Janice Becker, Patricia Kennedy, and Laura Zeckendorf
