On June 2, The Museum of Modern Art hosted its annual Party in the Garden benefit.
Artists Richard Serra and Kara Walker were honored and David Rockefeller received a special 100th birthday salute during the dinner portion of the evening. Kara Walker first exhibited at MoMA in the Projects Series in 2000, and has work currently on display in the Museum’s Contemporary Galleries as a part of the exhibition Scenes for a New Heritage: Contemporary Art from the Collection. Co-chairs of the event were Agnes Gund, Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder, Catie and Donald Marron, and Janet Wallach and Robert B. Menschel. Honorary co-chairs were Marie-Josée Kravis and Jerry I. Speyer. After dinner, guests made their way to the museum’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden for the highly anticipated after-party and concert. The area was tented due to the rain. Our favorite DJ duo Chromeo was on the turntables. They were playing a mix of hip hop and dance tunes like Amerie’s “1 Thing,” French Montana’s “Don’t Panic,” and Tinashe’s “All Hands On Deck,” to name a few.
After mingling, taking photos on the small bridge over the fountain and dancing, guests – who were dressed to impress – made their way to the stage on far side of the garden. This year’s headlining act was The Weeknd. In the past, artists Solange, Santigold, Fun., Lykke Li and Kanye West have graced this very stage. The Weeknd was rocking a denim jacket, dark t-shirt and dark jeans. He was accompanied by a guitarist, drummer, keyboardist and bass player. He said during the set that New York is one of his favorite cities. The crowd went wild when he performed his biggest hit to date “Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey).” He also performed “The Morning,” ”Often,” his track with Wiz Khalifa “Remember You,” “The Zone,” which features Drake, his new song “The Hills,” a cover of Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love,” another Drizzy collab “Crew Love,” and his hit with Ariana Grande “Love Me Harder.”
The Weekend commented that this was his first time ever at the MoMA. “This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.” Party in the Garden benefits the Annual Fund of The Museum of Modern Art and the maintenance of The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. The event also supported the Museum’s general operating fund, helping to make possible the Museum’s education programs and the care, study, and exhibition of its collection. Other notables in attendance included director Steve McQueen, Leelee Sobieski, Cindy Sherman, Chuck Close, Daniel Arsham, Thelma Golden, Wendi Murdoch, Tamara Mellon, Arianna Huffington, Ariana Rockefeller, Rachel Feinstein and Jeff Koons.
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