BEHIND THE CAMERA
By R. Couri Hay
Anh Duong
Isabelle Bscher’s Galerie Gmurzynska
George Hamilton, Thom Browne and Peter Som were among the guests at Isabelle Bscher’s Galerie Gmurzynska’s exhibit of Anh Duong. The critically acclaimed show was dubbed The Incoherences of a Gentlewoman. Duong has gained acclaim for both her self-portraits and paintings of actors like Vincent Gallo, Susan Sarandon, Anjelica Huston as well as model Karen Elson and designer Christian Louboutin – several of which were on display. Titles included The Melancholy of Impotence and Without Obsession I am Lost. Duong’s work can also be found in the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and the Statue of Liberty Museum in NYC. Her work is also in the private collections of filmmakers, artists and architects from Dennis Hopper to Bruno Bischofberger. Among those pursuing the art and drinking Aphrodise bubbly rosé included Joseph and Sabine Getty, Anne McNally, Emma Snowdon-Jones, Christopher Mason, Derek Blasberg, Eugenia and Janna Bullock, Janis Gardner and Monica Elias. Gmurzynska is an internationally renowned gallery known for its museum quality exhibitions. Gmurzynska.com
Holiday House Palm Beach
Sharon Bush and Kimberly Paige Bluhm, whose husband is billionaire real estate and casino magnate Neil Bluhm, were among the supporters of Iris Dankner’s Holiday House’s Tabletop Event at Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. Interior designer Campion Platt, Andrea Stark, Jean Shafiroff and Sarah Whetenhall were among the hosts of the two-day event, which raised money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The organization adhered to their pink theme by serving Aphrodise, a new bubbly rosé from Greece. holidayhousenyc.com.
Mr. Brainwash
Clarendon Fine Art
Clarendon Fine Art hosted a reception for Banksy’s protégé, Mr. Brainwash, to celebrate the opening of his new exhibition All You Need is Art. The event also marked the first anniversary of their U.S. flagship gallery in Westport Connecticut. As part of its U.S. launch, Clarendon partnered with The Westport Museum for History & Culture. The show was splashed over the gallery’s two floors and featured his limited-edition silkscreens, marrying four of the most well-known artworks in history: Van Gogh’s Sunflowers of 1888 and Irises of 1890 and Warhol’s Hibiscus inspired Flowers of 1964 and Campbell’s Soup tin from the 1962 series. Guests included Clarendon Fine Art’s CEO Helen Swaby, the gallery’s manager Eve Gianni, and Rebecca Ball. Also in the mix were First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, Eartha Kitt’s Daughter Kitt Shapiro, Lisa Wexler, Lucia Gulbransen, Robin Moyer Chung and Jennifer Bernicker. “My aim is to reveal the unexpected,” said the artist. Mr. Brainwash, whose collectors include the Obamas, Madonna, and David and Victoria Beckham, rose to fame in 2008 when he mounted his debut show in Los Angeles, titled Life is Beautiful. Mr. Brainwash appeared in Exit Through the Gift Shop, an Academy-nominated documentary produced by Banksy that showed his transition from filmmaker to street artist. clarendonfineart.com
Cuisine Solutions
International Sous Vide Day
Dr. Bruno Goussault, the Chief Scientist of the Culinary Research and Education Academy, celebrated his 82nd birthday at Cuisine Solutions’ (CUSI) 7th International Sous Vide Day (ISVD) on January 26th in Paris. Dr. Goussault pioneered the sous vide technique in France more than 50 years ago. CUSI celebrating hosted four simultaneous celebrations in Washington D.C., Paris, France, Bangkok, Thailand, and Rio de Janeiro. Each event culminated with a happy birthday toast to Dr. Goussault. Among CUSI’s customers are Starbucks, Amtrak, KLM, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. The inaugural South American party was hosted in Rio, by CUSI CEO Felipe Hasselmann and Chairman Stanislas Vilgrain. The evening was inspired by Brazilian street markets, with authentic “market stalls” placed throughout the venue. Guests included Steven Royster of the U.S. Consulate in Rio, Chef João Diamante, John Rutjes and Jacqueline Ward. In Paris, the event was hosted by the organizations’ CSO Gerard Bertholon at Le Pavillon Élysée Té. In the mix were Chefs Ghislaine Arabian, Frédéric Simonin, Éric Briffard, Stéphane Collet, Jean-Louis Gerin, Philippe Gobet, Guy Legay, and Michel Widehem, as well as Director of Gategroup Oliver Fischer and CUSI CMO Thomas Donohoe. In Washington D.C., CUSI CCO Miguel Franco greeted the attendees, who were treated to tasting stations, demonstrations, glasses of the luxury Greek bubbly rose Aphrodise, and cryo-concentration Bloody Marys. The North America Ambassador of Sous Vide Awards went to former Iron Chef judge Farmer Lee Jones and Chef Jamie Simpson. In Thailand, guests were treated to Thai sous vide dishes and live musical performances. Guests included CUSI Chief Manufacturing Exec. Jean-Pierre Guillaud. Cuisinesolutions.com
Oscar Winners Joseph Fioretti and Lee Grant
Gwyneth Paltrow, Joy Behar, Marlo Thomas, Brenda Vaccaro and Ellen Burstyn hosted an art exhibition by Oscar award-winning documentary producer Joseph Fioretti, who is best known for Down and Out in America. The show, entitled “Fioretti: Family, Friends & Flowers,” was held at the Ukrainian Institute of America, who along with trauma centers in Ukraine, benefited form the sale of all the art. Fioretti said his wife, Oscar-award winning actress and director Lee Grant, inspired the benefit as her mother was Ukrainian. ukrainianinstitute.org
Safari Round Up
Sofia Vergara’s ex-husband, Magic Mike star Joe Manganiello, who now stars on Deal or No Deal Island, was spotted talking with celebrity hairstylist and Bravo’s Flipping Out star Chaz Dean at the Hollywood Beauty Awards. Among the honorees was actress Ming-Na Wen who voiced the lead character in the Disney movie Mulan…… The Casita Maria Gala, which raises money for their Arts and Education Center in the Bronx, honored Dr. Ramon Tallaj of SOMOS Community Care for his commitment to families and youth in the South Bronx…… Top divorce attorney Ken Jewell was talking with influencer Sofie Mahlkvist about the importance of prenups for young brides at La Goulue.