THIS IS A HAPPENING! I consider a great LA night when a convergence of local talent is pooled to create a memorable shared experience; last night MOCA delivered … IN SPADES! After the red carpet and cocktail hour where I never quite made it into the exhibit titled ‘The Artist’s Museum’, organized by Rebecca Morse (then again, I didn’t make it to the exhibit last year as well….); guests proceeded into the tent that was erected in the middle of Grand Avenue downtown LA for the MOCA Winter Gala envisioned by artist Doug Aitken. Rachel Bilson, Chloe Sevigny, Mila Kunis, Elodie Bouchez, Kate Bostworth, Peter Marino, Kristen Dunst, Ginnifer Goodwin … flanked by their publicists and BFF’s at the Chanel table, Chanel fine jewelry being a sponsor for the evening; needless to say plenty of sprarkly bobbles and lace abounded at the longest table in the room.
And about that room … Mr. Aitken interactive aspirations for the evening carried over into the decor of the tent; the walls were painted in a geometric black /white pattern which gave the illusion that the walls were in fact three dimensional.
Also on the walls hung poster art contributed by Bruce Nauman, Raymond Pettibon, Alexis Smith, Laura Owens and several others. I loved the light sculptor that hung above us amidst ‘exposed’ white piping which was also patterned in geometry, designed by architect Barbara Bestor.
There was a bit of eating in between socializing among the many who’s who in the room … my favorite union I dubbed the Grey Table/ #51; not only for the fact that our former Governor Davis was at the helm, but his fellow table mates included Ed Ruscha, super star architect Frank Gehry and their respective partners-all silver haired!
Plenty of artists were in attendance and what a treat to be in their company … Jeff Koons, Roson Crow, Liza Lou, Mike Kelley, John Baldesarri and Catherine Opie - WOW!
Opening remarks by our lovely hostess Maria Bell were followed by new MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch (tho he did attend last year’s gala he was not yet ‘officially’ posted); who introduced performer Devendra Banhart, Beck and Caetano Veloso - who ever brought this talent together on the same stage is genius! They alone left us all swooning …
But wait folks there’s more!
Cowboy performance
Onto the live art work by Doug Aitken titled WE, which included: farm auctioneers, drummers, the LA Gospel Choir and my ‘ultimate cherry on the top’; a cattle whipper …
Strategically mapped throughout the room; we had pistol quick bidding by the auctioneers, thumping rhythm courtesy of the dozens of Tabla drummers, and chorus splendor by the Choir all in tandem requiring the audience to follow the performance in the fashion of a tennis match!
The grand finale was worth the wait for sure; but first I must share a childhood memory that accounts for my great enthusiasm for this particular piece … my cereal of choice growing up was Kellog’s Sugar Corn Pops (nutritious as there really is corn in the ingredients … ); at the time the box was dominated by a full length photo of a genuine American Cowboy in full gear; hat, jeans, chaps and rope … Sooo when the cattle whipper started his syncopated fire cracker snapping, I was done in … as were all for cheers and hoots followed!
The lack of an official after fete did not deter guests such as Cameron Silver (looking every bit the warrior in a Lesage vest under his dinner jacket), Rachel Zoe, Lisa Eisner, Shiva Rose (super hot in Mark Fast!), Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale from splintering off to Soho House …
Our lil posse opted for a stop @ the local liquor post and a pal’s cozy haven in Hancock Park where we warmed our toes fireside stretching out the evening and enjoying each other’s company …
Kristin Davis, Merle Ginsberg, Magda Berliner
George Kotsiopoulos, Magda Berliner
Gift bag from Chanel Fine jewelry and book; "The Idea of the West"
Maria Bell, our hostess
MOCA gala ceilings
busy red carpet
