On March 15 in New York, Art Production Fund (APF) held its 13th annual gala at The Seagram Building. Presented by Saks, the night welcomed over three hundred guests to Camp APF—a themed soiree ad auction to celebrate the organization’s dedication to the arts.
Courtesy of Art Production Fund.
Upon walking in, visitors were treated to a festive photo station decorated with oversized martini olives. Around the bend in the women’s restroom, Maria Tash hosted a luxurious complimentary piercing studio—fresh from our summer camp memories, where piercings were done in the bathroom stall. Upstairs, passed hors d’oeuvres—including caviar-topped mini grilled cheese sandwiches and pigs-in-a-blanket bites—were served alongside cocktails, wine, and Lallier champagne. For the explorers who ventured to the mezzanine, frozen slushie machines awaited in flavors like blue raspberry and coconut.
Courtesy of Art Production Fund.
Throughout the cocktail hour, dancers performed a whimsical Endless Summer performance choreographed by Brendan Fernandes, while handing each other flowers and exchanging flirtatious smiles. As guests made their way from the cocktail hour to the reception—from The Grill to The Pool—dancers lined the hallway, ushering them into the dinner party portion, divided into top and bottom “bunks,” with tables taking up the main floor and the mezzanine level.
Courtesy of Art Production Fund.
As each guest took to their seat, they were treated to a gift card by Saks, a personalized leather keychain by Leatherology, an APF denim button-down shirt, and a summer camp letter by APF board member Sarah Hoover. In the vein of true nostalgia, words in Comic Sans filled the reader in on what was happening at camp that night.
Jenny Mollen, Stacey Bendet, Huma Abedin, Lilah Ramzi, Priya Shukla, Nicky Hilton, Samantha Berry, and Tayshia Adams, courtesy of Art Production Fund.
It kicked off with dinner, with a menu also curated by Hoover—including a chicken tender-topped salad with ranch dressing, a lobster club sandwich with Lay’s potato chips, and Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches. Mid-meal, introductory words by APF’s Executive Director Casey Fremont and Director of Operations Kathleen Lynch began, leading the room into a festive toast. Then, a commissioned performance by the acclaimed trumpet player Dave Guy awoke our senses before an art auction took off.
Kathleen Lynch and Casey Fremont Crowe, courtesy of Art Production Fund.
Sara Friedlander, Head of the New York Evening Sale at Christie’s, led the live auction supported by UOVO, with all funds supporting APF’s programming. Lots included a painting by Hiba Schahbaz, a sculpture by Kenny Scharf, and a tropical getaway to the Palm Heights resort. In total, over $760,000 was raised in support of the organization’s mission to produce ambitious public art projects.
Miles Greenberg, Yvonne Force Villareal, and Fab 5 Freddy, courtesy of Art Production Fund.
Throughout the night, guests—like APF’s co-founders Yvonne Force Villareal and Doreen Remen, as well as Sarah Arison, Huma Abedin, Stacey Bendet, Jennifer Fisher, Jon Gray of Ghetto Gastro, Nicky Hilton, Sergio Hudson, Roopal Patel, Amy Phelan, Cynthia Rowley, Derrick Adams, Sanford Biggers, Julia Chiang, Miles Greenberg, Marilyn Minter, Tyler Mitchell, Ugo Rondinone, Tschabalala Self, and Dustin Yellin—enjoyed the company, support, and feel-good vibes that only a chic art-centric campsite could provide.
Courtesy of Art Production Fund.
