Rose Hartman

Vera Wang at The Gordon Parks Awards Dinner

Several hundred photo aficionados, photo collectors, photographers and performers gathered at Cipriani Wall Street ‘s grand ballroom last week to pay homage to the brilliant and innovative photographer Gordon Parks whose long and illustrious career took him from the favelas of Rio to the world of high fashion. Swiss Beatz hosted the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Photo Auction that honored designer Vera Wang, artist and photographer Lorna Simpson, director Ed Zwick, and jazz musician Curtis Mayfield for their courage, vision, compassion and heart–and raised $500,000. for student scholarships, etc. In addition, filmmaker George Lucas and his wife, Hobson who donated $25 million to the University of Chicago to construct the Gordon Parks Arts Hall, the first named after an African-American.

Vera Wang (Above) given her award by Chelsea Clinton

Gayle King

Cecilia Dean, publisher of Visionaire Magazine and photo by Gordon Parks

Swiss Beatz

Huma Abedin was among the guests at the Gordon Parks Awards Dinner that raised money to preserve and exhibit the works of Parks, and provide scholarships to deserving students

Pop star Janelle Monae’s electrifying singing turned the evening into a a dance party that BROUGHT the likes of Peter Beard, Alicia Keyes, Chrissy Teigen and Karlie Kloss to their feet

Chrissy Teigen

Alicia Keyes, Swiss Beatz, Peter and Zara Beard

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ROSE HARTMAN
www.rosehartmanphotography.com

Simon de Pury at Frieze VIP preview

Frieze New York 2014 edition sported a glittering array of 190 galleries from 28 countries including global powerhouses David Zwirner, Larry Gagosian, White Box, and Hauser & Wirth as well as emerging galleries temporarily-housed in brilliantly lit, spacious booths . While visitors could arrive at Randall’s Island by car, subway or bike, the most appealing mode of travel is the 20-minute ferry ride up the East River from East 35th Street, a ride akin to taking a ferry to Venice’s biennale. In addition to enjoying paintings, sculpture, and photography from contemporary stars, visitors could spend hours enjoying artist talks, sound installations and special projects.

A bucolic setting made my visit to Frieze feel like a mini-vacation. Site-specific works looped across the grass, and, even on the water. Marie Lorenz, a NY based artist, created a handmade boat that transported guests around Randall’s Island’s shoreline. 50 guests at a time could paddle around together-enjoying the city from an unusual viewpoint.

Another playful theme appeared in the form of Allen Ruppersberg’s pop-up, ‘Allen’s Grand Hotel’-allowing a very selected clientele the chance to stay in one of two rooms-the Jesus Room and/the Bridal suite. The tenants, the winners of a phone lottery system, paid $350 per night, but had to be locked inside the rooms for security reasons, until early the next morning (dinner, of course, was included. The original ‘hotel’ was installed in a Los Angeles playhouse in 1971. Day time visitors could could stop for a drink in the ‘lobby’ during the 4-day fair. Adding to the pleasure of viewing extraordinary works of art (Richard Prince, Eric Fischel, Louise Bourgeois, Paul McCarthy, etc.,) there were amazing people-watching opportunities-especially during the VIP preview: A-list actors, stylish collectors , editors, and curators.

When energy flagged, visitors could refuel at tempting pop-up restaurants: Momofuku Milk Bar, Frankies Spuntino, and the Fat Radish were favorites. And artist designed T-shirts could be purchased in a mylar-covered lounge. Not-to-be missed in 2015.