Fun-Raisers

Posted by Maryanne Salvat On October - 16 - 2013

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Miami Rail’s Carnival Fun-Raiser 

IMG_4567On a perfect fall afternoon, Gallery Diet owners, Nina Johnson-Milewski and husband, Daniel Milewski welcomed hundreds of artists and art lovers to their beautiful 1920s home (complete with a pool with Titanic-inspired mosaics) to party, bounce, dunk, drink and feast at the Miami Rail’s anniversary Fun-Raiser, an “adult” carnival all in the name of art and culture (oft one in the same).  The fun, fashionable crowd gathered in support of The Miami Rail, the sister publication to The Brooklyn Rail, a non-profit literary journal, in its sixth edition with its seventh due in Decemberjust in time for Art Basel (online at miamirail.org).   Nina describes the publication as one that, “is for people who are culturally invested in the arts, it offers a broader, in-depth perspective than other papers and magazines. We have artist-to-artist interviews, writer-to-writer interviews, poetry for each issue, reviews of galleries and museum exhibitions, architecture.” 

 

Sounds interesting, right?  Well then it was fitting that the “fun-raiser” was an eclectic bash filled with antics such as socialites in a dunk tank (Erin Newberg, John Lin and Louis Aguirre- we mean YOU!), a three-legged race, a bounce house- that got extra bouncy after a few tequila snow cones, renowned artist, Bhakti Baxter painting tattoos, and tasty Shorty’s BBQ to boot. Guests included: Iran Issa-Khan, Susie and Walid Wahab, Jonathan and Criselda Breene, Lauren Gnazzo, Belkys Nerey, architect, Rene Gonzalez, Todd Lewin, Michelle Varat, Ashley Abess, Bill Kearney, Matthew and Taylor Abess; Suzy Buckley Woodward, Kerry McLaney, Karelle Levy, Gingi Beltran, Martin Rozenblum, Lina Hargrett, Susanne Birbragher, Yuri Tuma, Leann Standish, Sam Robin, Wolfsonian Curator Cathy Leff and PAMM’s Tim Walker. 

 

IMG_1425Love of Technology at MOCA 

Also notorious for throwing spirited art bashes, MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) along with Architectural Digest and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan hosted an exclusive preview of the museum’s newest exhibition Love of Technology, which inaugurated the 201314 season. MOCAs Chief Curator Alex Gartenfeld led guests on a private tour of the galleries.  This highly anticipated exhibition, part of MOCAs Knight Exhibition Series which focuses on emerging and experimental artists, is the first Gartenfeld has curated for MOCA, as well as the American museum debut for several of the artists.  

MOCA Board Chair Kira Flanzraich and Knight Foundation President and CEO Alberto Ibargüen and wife Susana, and Irma and Norman Braman discussed the intriguing works with artists Ben Schumacher, Anicka Yi and Jason Galbut while Greg Stranz, Chris Newton and Mike Colman of JPMorgan Chase mingled with MOCA Board members Ray Ellen Yarkin, Janice Lipton, Diane Lieberman, Raquel Sheck, Leni Sender, Joan Robinson and guests Orly Adler and Howard Kaye.   

After the tour, guests enjoyed an exquisite dinner by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz designed especially for the evening.  Each guest received autographed copies of Schwartzs new cookbook Michaels Genuine Food: Down-to-Earth Cooking for People Who Love to Eat, and pastry chefs Hedy Goldsmiths Baking Out Loud: Fun Desserts with Big Flavors.

 

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