There are few surer signs that spring has arrived in New York than the annual return of the YoungArts Gala to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of the Den, where members of the cultural, creative and philanthropic elite gather to celebrate the next generation of American artists in a celebration designed, once again, by Raúl Àvila—the maestro and grand prize behind Me. Gala chair Sarah Arison AND Thomas Wilhelm, Gillian Hearst, Beef AND Charles JigarjianAND Sandra AND Tony Tamer welcomed nearly 300 attendees this year in what began, as usual, with an elegant cocktail reception that turned into a celebration of emerging talent in the worlds of dance, music and song, ultimately raising over $1 million in support of YoungArts’ mission.
This year’s honorary co-chairs, innovative prima ballerinas Misty Copeland and artist Glenn Ligongave the event a distinct creative power, while award-winning Broadway performer (and YoungArts alumnus) Blaine Alden Krauss kept the evening moving with practiced grace. The performances were directed by the choreographer Caleb Teicherhimself a 2011 YoungArts winner in Dance. But the emotional center of the evening was the presentation of the Arison Award to the Academy Award-winning actress. Marisa Tomeihonored for her dynamic career spanning stage and screen and for her enduring mentorship of YoungArts talent.
The guest list, as always, reads like a cross-section of everything that makes New York’s cultural ecosystem worth celebrating. From the world of dance, he was the legend himself, Mikhail Baryshnikovwith dancer and writer Lisa Rinehartartistic director of the American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffedancer and producer Daniil Simkin, Desmond Richardson e Complexions Contemporary BalletMacArthur Fellow Ralph LemonTony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones and award-winning choreographer Princess Grace Roderick George. Oscar nominated actress Rosie Perez brought her signature brand of Brooklyn glam, while musical highlights included Grammy Award-winning violinist Jennifer Kohpianist and composer Conrad Taomezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and Tony nominees Daniel Watts AND Michael McElroy.
The art world was equally well represented, with the director of the Brooklyn Museum Anne Pasternakdirector of MoMA PS1 Connie Butlerart director of the High Line and curator of the Venice Biennale Cecilia AlemaniExecutive Director of the Keith Haring Foundation Simon Castetsartistic director TRIBE Shamel Pits and the Aspen Art Museum Nicola Lees present. Art collectors were also noted Jamie AND Robert Soros and famous patron Komal Shahand of course, there were many, many artists in the room, incl Jean Shin, Camille Henrot, Jonah Freeman, KAWS, Sheree Hovsepian, Zoe Buckman, Taryn Simon, Deborah Willis, Nikolai AND Simon Haas, Eddie Martinez, Sam Moyer, Lee Quinones, Zoe Buckman AND Eric Haze.
Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart
Michi Jigarjian and Zoe Buckman
Caleb Teicher, Sarah Arison, Misty Copeland and Glenn Ligon
Misty Copeland and Glenn Ligon
Jamie Singer Soros and Robert Soros
Jennifer Koh and Barbra Sainsuri, Clive Chang
Mark Tallman
Jean Shin and Simon Haas, Nikolai Haas, Dee Dee Sides
Cecilia Alemani, Komal Shah, Simon Castets and Stuart Comer
Connie Butler and Camille Henrot
Shamel Pitts, Sarah Arison and Roderick George
Sarah Harrelson and Sheree Hovsepian
Gillian Hearst
Sam Moyer and Eddie Martinez
Rosie Perez and Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS
Max Hollein, Wes Gordon, Anne Pasternak, and Paul Arnhold
Folake Ologunja, Eddie Martinez, Sam Moyer and Dave Guy
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