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2008 Carnegie International understandable
As exuberantly curated by Douglas Fogle, the well orchestrated, shock-and-awe collection previewed at Friday's glittering gala which brought out nearly 900 of our most scintillating social earthlings and more art nabobs of the international social swim than you could shake a paintbrush at. As well it should, because the CI has positioned Pittsburgh as the center of the art universe. It's big, very big, with 40 artists from 17 countries. It's old, very old, dating back to 1896. It's the most important exhibit of international art in North America. And it's must see.
They beamed into the Carnegie Museum of Art in "creative cocktail" attire and a smattering of black-ties. Setting the pace for the fun in store was a staged demonstration on the outdoor plaza by several placard-carrying students that questioned life on Mars.
If one could tear themselves away from the exhibit, there were many marvelous things going on. Like ordering a drink at one of the Bars on Mars (do you love it?). Like gathering in one of the smart, all-white lounges that dotted the Scaife foyer and carriage entrance spaces. Like Armstrong announcing the esteemed $10,000 Carnegie and Fine prizes. Like walking through the other-worldly bands of colors to the strolling suppers that were exquisitely swathed in monochromatic colors -- shades of gold for the Music Hall Foyer and blues for the Hall of Architecture.
Parkhurst's dramatic buffets fed the multitudes (miraculously, without queues) on a menu of 14 delectable offerings that were constantly replenished. As were the Cholesterol City dessert tables. Masses of Hepatica's white lilies towered over the buffets. There was a lot of table-hopping and kissing of cheeks, the sure-fire way to say hello and be sure everyone notices what you're wearing at the same time.
Everyone agreed the evening worked so well because it wasn't stuffy or boring or black-tie, and guests could move about freely. And there was no band playing ear-splitting music through dining ... only Cellofourte holding forth with elegant chamber pieces.
The younger group, which always adds such fun and gaiety to the evening, burst in later. New York's Slavic Soul Party was booked for dancing, so 385 of them shimmied up to the extravagant dessert tables and worked it off on the dance floor. Their ranks were swelled by the big wigs who hotfooted it back for some terrestrial rock 'n roll.
Lissome lovelies Mardi Royston and Janet Hunt, there with Jim and Bill (he's CMA prez), chaired the gala where we spotted such earthlings as curator of the spectacular CI Douglas Fogle with its graphic designers Cornelia Blatter and Marcel Hermans; Sheila and Milt Fine; Women's Committee prexy Ranny Ferguson with Jay; Swiss Ambassador Christoph Bubb; Toto and Jim Fisher; Elsie and Henry Hillman; former CI curators Madeleine Grynsztejn of Chicago and Laura Hoptman of NYC; Lea Simonds and Harley Trice; Kathe, Lara and Jim Patrinos; former CMA director Jack Lane; Carnegie Museums chair Suzy Broadhurst with Jim; Vogue Magazine associate editor Eve MacSweeney; Bill Bodine; Judith O'Toole; gallerists Barbara Gladstone and Michael Clifton of NYC; Jane Arkus; Issie and Lee Foster; and Tom Sokolowski.
Moving along with Kristen and Kevin McMahon; Suzy and Mike Watson; Jane Roesch; bookstaller Jay Dantry; Barbara Barry; Teri and Damian Soffer; Sally Levin; Sylvia and Don Robinson; Ann and Marty McGuinn; Diane and Dennis Unkovic; Bernita Buncher and Ed Solomon; Molly and Joe Walton; Amy and Sean Sebastian; Karla Boos and Joel LeGall; Rose and Bill Strickland; Gail and Tom Murphy; Wallis, Lauren and Marshall Katz; Pam Bryan; Bernard Worden; Liz and Dan Wilson; lynne and Dr. John Lister; Rebecca and Greg Greenleaf; Brenda and David Roger; Vicky Clark; Kitty Hillman and Richard Burkland; and more, more, more, including artists from all over the world whom you'll be hearing about, believe me.
| Tip Toppers |
Spring has sprung, and along with it, inevitable as the first robin or rosebud, springs the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy's Hat Luncheon to cast its magic spell on one of our city parks. The fashion flock -- no strangers to parties -- landed in Frick Park in thrilling chapeaux. No matter Saturday's showers, every walkway and path was totally sheltered. There were gentlemen to flirt with over mimosas but, as always, the great sport of the afternoon was rubbernecking. Because nothing stops everyone dead in their tracks like a woman in a divine hat.
Toadflax transformed the colossal tent into an enchanted garden, and the menu was catered to perfection by the Duquesne Club atop Lendable Linens ravishing, pink-and-green chintz tablecloths. Hats off to Susie Dorrance, Christine Hilliard, Peggy McKnight and Charena Swann who chaired the good-as-glamour-gets afternoon for 575 that's been a thing of beauty and a fundraising joy for 10 years.
