On Friday, July 20, 2018 the Newport Art Museum will hold its annual summer gala, the Artists’ Ball, the Museum’s largest fundraiser of the year. This fashion forward event’s presenting sponsor is Oscar de la Renta and will feature guest artist Donald Robertson. Tickets for the event, as well as a preview of the items available for live auction, are available at www.biddingforgood.com/
Cultural and civic leaders, artists, designers, collectors, patrons of the arts, and other art world notables will enjoy cocktails, gourmet food stations, a live auction and dancing to music by Marjorie Gubelmann, known in the music world as DJ Mad Marj.
The event co-chairs are Anne Baker, Elizabeth Ann Kahane, Molly de Ramel and Steven Richter, all Trustees of the Newport Art Museum. Proceeds from the Artists’ Ball will provide vital support for the Museum’s celebrated arts programming, community outreach and preservation of its historic buildings.
The festive evening will begin at 6:30 pm with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the event’s signature rum libation, “Pop Up Punch,” a.k.a, POP, in the Museum’s courtyard where guests will have a first glimpse of the evening’s live auction items. The Museum’s Cushing / Morris Gallery will be open for viewing exhibitions by artists Shara Hughes and Cristi Rinklin. The Alan Bernstein Jazz Quintet will provide the cocktail hour music.
Guests will gather under the tent for dinner and a live auction. Newport-inspired food stations will be prepared by The Catered Affair. Seating options will offer an eclectic mix of lounge areas, more traditional seating and high tops to create a relaxed and contemporary vibe. Recommended attire for the evening is appropriately “Pop Art Color.”
The Artists’ Ball presenting sponsor will be the American fashion house of Oscar de la Renta. It’s founder and namesake was one of the most influential figures in 20th century American fashion who apprenticed with Cristobal Balenciaga, and then worked as a couture assistant at Lanvin. He founded his own label in 1965. CEO Alex Bolen and co-creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia currently lead the legendary fashion house.
Donald Robertson, who will attend the event, has created original artwork for the Artists’ Ball invitation and limited edition posters to commemorate the evening. Robertson creates masterpieces with little more than duct tape and a pair of scissors. He is perhaps best known online as @drawbertson, where his witty, almost cartoonlike depictions of everyone from Kanye West and Anna Wintour to Karl Lagerfeld and Beyoncé has attracted over 200,000 followers on Instagram.
The evening’s auctioneer, C. Hugh Hildesley, is a senior auctioneer with Sotheby’s, where he has conducted some of auction house’s most prestigious sales, including the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sale and the sale of the property of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. During dinner, Mr. Hildesley will orchestrate the ‘lively’ live auction portion of the evening, which includes seven extraordinary lots.
Audemars Piguet, the Swiss luxury watch company founded in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, will donate a Royal Oak timepiece to the auction. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak is considered to be the first luxury sports watch and is the most popular watch currently offered by the legendary Audemars Piguet designers. In addition to the timepiece, Audemars Piguet will offer a 2018 travel experience package to Geneva, Switzerland featuring a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the company’s famed workshop.
Guests will have a rare opportunity to bid on a Moke electric car, hand painted by Donald Robertson exclusively for the Artists’ Ball. This British classic has become a symbol of fun in the sun. The one-of-a-kind Donald Robertson designed Moke is destined to be a collectible art car.
The Oscar de la Renta Company will offer two tickets to one of their New York City runway shows, in addition to an ODLR handbag, their Bella Blanca fragrance, and a generous gift certificate toward a purchase from their Madison Avenue boutique.
The renowned Newport jeweler, Three Golden Apples, will create a unique brooch that can be worn as a pendant and inspired by a Sol le Witt print from the Museum’s permanent collection.
The New York based fashion house of alice and olivia will design a singular garment made from fabric incorporating artwork by Donald Robertson, exclusively for the Artists’ Ball.
Designer Kate Brierley of the ISOUDE collection, an exclusive line of women’s wear that celebrates a return to fine craft and artistry, will make a signature gown influenced by “Pinfield: Double Ips,” an art work from the Museum’s collection by artist, Allison Paschke.
Rhode Island based Marc Streisand, of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers, will fashion a bespoke men’s suit from one of the rarest fabrics on earth, Vicuna, along with a lining inspired by “Be of Love,” an art work by artist Corita Kent, also from the Museum’s permanent collection.
Immediately following the live auction, Hugh Hildesley will lead a paddle raise to garner additional support for the Museum’s year-round arts programming. All those who participate will be eligible to win one of two raffle prizes.
Verdura, the company founded by Duke Fulco di Verdura (1899 – 1978), one of the most original jewelers of the twentieth century, will offer an elegant lunch at the New York City offices of Verdura for up to eight people, a behind-the-scenes peak at the making of the new collection, along with a Chef’s Tasting for Two and overnight accommodations in New York City’s Core Club.
Lotuff Leather, which opened its first Providence studio in 2013 and has been recognized by the New York Times, GQ, the Wall Street Journal, Refinery29 andEsquire among others for their exquisite handmade leather bags, will provide a bridle leather briefcase.
Celebrity DJ Mad Marj will be in charge of the dance floor from 8:30 pm on. She has been spinning at some of the hottest parties from Manhattan’s East Village to London and Paris. Her clients include Tory Burch, Versace, W Magazine, Bulgari and Longchamp, to mention only a few, and she has performed with New Order, Skrillex and Estelle.
Each Artists’ Ball guest will also receive a special lipstick, complements of the Estée Lauder Companies.