The Museum of Arts and Design, more affectionately known as MAD, throws two major fundraiser events each year: the lively but intimate Young Patrons Gala in the spring, and the much grander MAD Ball every autumn. Last night, more than 500 of the museum’s patrons congregated at Pier Sixty for the annual MAD Ball, and for a party of that size, the energy in the room was absolutely electric. Iris Apfel cochaired, Simon Doonan hosted with his usual puns and tricks, and the crowd included a range of the museum’s supporters, like Zoe Buckman, Monique Péan, Ralph Pucci, and Lauren duPont.
There was, after all, reason to celebrate. Yesterday evening also doubled as the formal introduction of MAD’s new director, Jorge Daniel Veneciano, who explained that he has big dreams for the little museum. “I want to bring vibrancy to all our programs and expand our audience to a nontraditional audience,” he said. Maybe that’s why pretty young thing Andi Potamkin Blackmore, an art dealer, was brought on board as cochair this year. She showed up wearing a ravishing gunmetal metallic jumpsuit, a golden fringed Missoni coat—“I saw it and just knew I needed it,” she told us—and Baja East designers John Targon and Scott Studenberg on her arms.
Veneciano himself also had a great look, wearing a fringed Missoni vest adorned with metal coins. “I saw this and loved it,” he said. “I was born in Argentina, and it reminded me of gaucho belts, which have these coins strung along the sides.” Missoni, as one of the evening s honorees, was the brand to wear last night. Veneciano added, "It was important to honor Missoni because they so expertly traverse the worlds of design and fashion."
Honorees included conceptual artist Yinka Shonibare, the late architect Zaha Hadid, real estate developer and film producer Charles S. Cohen, and Angela Missoni on behalf of her family’s company. Cohen, who is a longtime supporter of the museum and serves as a trustee, put it best during cocktails: “It’s nice to be at an event like this, but it’s even nicer to be able to help.”
