Like most technical events, the Whitney MuseumThe astrology-themed art party on Tuesday night was an evening full of people looking to be seen posing as looking at the art.
Before entering, I noticed that there were people standing outside the museum with signs that read, “Hunk in Support of the Whitney Workers,” in support of the staff who were negotiation To increase wages for more than a year, to no avail. Inside, the party was indifferent to their protest, packed to the gills with attendees instructed to dress “inspired by your zodiac sign.” Below, I’ve rated the entire evening on a scale of one to five “sipping tequila,” the event’s signature drink.
Upon my arrival, I was offered a glass of champagne to “sip tequila” from bottles with Whitney’s signature on the label, a collaborative effort with Casa Dragones, one of the party’s sponsors. I took a picture of the bottle, but declined a glass – it wasn’t cold; Enough said. 1 sipping tequila.
After spending a few minutes focusing on the large, rotating tinsel chandelier (this is an artistic thing, after all), I made my way to the bathrooms. I ran down the stairs Tracy Anderson, who turns out she knows a lot about her astrological placements: “I’m actually a triple Pisces. So I feel all the creativity that comes with this fluid sign, and I definitely feel like I gravitate towards people who are solid and earthy because I feel like I can float away.” If the woman with the hardest core in the world is worried about floating away, there is little hope for the rest of us.
When it reappeared, I passed Ashley Graham, who gallantly reveals that she is a Scorpio, even though she thinks she is more of a Leo. Artist Zoe Buckman put a different spin on her heavenly look for the evening, wearing two Stars of David on the front of her dress: “I think now, I identify with this more than I do as a virgin.” 5 sipping tequila.
Photo: Mike Vitelli/BFA.com
Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the number of attendees sporting animal horns as headdresses. I approached one of them, thinking it was a Capricorn – my fault. “Oh my God, you’re the third person to ask me this. I’m actually a Taurus. I bought these shapes that I can pull off after 20 minutes, and now I think I have to.”
In the end, I made my way towards the tavern, where I met the artist Chloe Wisea party host, and connoisseur of fashion-cut-home goods Beverly Nguyen. I asked them about their signs, as is customary at an astrology-themed party, and they both laughed. “I completely forgot about my horoscope tonight,” Nguyen said of her appearance. Wise replied in the same vein – “I just put on a costume.” I was relieved to hear their responses, because, Pisces, I was dressed all in black. In New York, we concluded that this is always the dress code. 5 sipping tequila.
Photo: Mike Vitelli/BFA.com
Nearby, I found a Food World character Andy Bragani. His hair has been bleached – a new twist. As a fellow faux-blonde I take great pleasure in sharing light-haired life stories and he, in his dark jacket and trousers, took the moment to plug in Nellie Lotan, the event sponsor she wore for the evening, adding that he was grateful to wear a palette complementing his new hair: “As a new blonde, I feel I Very well kept in dark appearance from head to toe. 5 sipping tequila.
By the time I finally got to art, the party was in full swing. Only the vague thump of DJ sets by Questlove and The Muses, playing downstairs, could be heard from the gallery floor, and it occurred to me that there was something strange—almost cynical—about looking at Edward Hopper’s stoic, lonely paintings in a crowded room. 4 sipping tequila.
Photo: Mike Vitelli/BFA.com/ Mike Vitelli/BFA.co