I consider it 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 -- The Artist's Museum, organized by Rebecca Morse -- guests proceeded into the tent that was erected in the middle of Grand Avenue in 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, and Ginnifer Goodwin were 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 sparkly bobbles and lace abounded at the longest table in the room.
And about that room ... Mr. Aitken's 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.
There was a bit of eating in between socializing among the many who's whos in the room ... my favorite union I dubbed the Gray 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 (though he did attend last year's gala, he was not yet 'officially' posted), who introduced performer Devendra Banhart, Beck and Caetano Veloso -- whoever brought this talent together on the same stage is a genius! They alone left us all swooning ...
But wait folks, there was more!
Onto the live artwork by Doug Aitken titled WE, which included: farm auctioneers, drummers, the LA Gospel Choir and my "ultimate cherry on the top," a cattle whipper. 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!