Caryl Stern, Serena Miller and Jenna Bush Hager join Purvi Padia as she joins together with UNICEF with her Project Lion

Last night was an amazing evening at the High Line Hotel in Chelsea just up the street form my studio. Caryl Stern, Serena Miller, Jenna Bush Hager, Nell Diamond, Manish Vorado and friends and family all joined together as Purvi announced her joining with UNICEF to launch PROJECT LION which will help children in orphanages in India. Purvi explained that joining with UNICEF will help create a sustainable infrastructure that will change the lives of thousands of children who have lost their parents.
To see all the photos please click on this PHOTO LINK

The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum Spring Benefit

Last night was The Noguchi Museum Spring Benefit celebrating the 2018 Isamu Noguchi Award that was presented to Naoto Fukasawa and Edwina Von Gal at the NOGUCHI MUSEUM
This gem of a museum located in Long Island City is a quiet hideaway located close the East River. Behind a tall brick wall lies a secret garden filled with carefully placed rocks and sculptures shaded by a few tall leafy trees. Inside the galleries are sculptures and lights made of paper in different shapes and sizes. It is a tranquil spot that begs to visitor to slow down and feel the power of nature as defined by the creations of Noguchi who's work punctuates the spaces with breath and form.
I was thrilled to be asked to capture the evenings festivities. The museum has long been a favorite spot of mine. Ambassador Koro Bessho was there to present Naoto and Edwina with their awards. Brett Littman who has been at the museum for less than a month shared his hopes and dreams for the future of the Museum. The guests mixed and mingled and braved going outside as the rain had stopped only and hour before they arrived. Dinner was held up stairs in 2 galleries and then everyone met together in the room between where the Akari Light Hose was open for guests to enter. This amazing room of light was a great place to take photos and I was so excited to get the chance to share the guests excitement and document them inside this amazing space that is normally roped off.
many thanks to everyone at the museum and also to the fabulous team of Cait and Jules who were the event designers for the evening.
To see all of my photos please click on this EVENT PHOTOS

The American Ballet Theater Spring Gala 2018

Last night was the American Ballet Theater Spring Gala at Lincoln Center. I missed the red carpet but made it in time for the intermission by which time everyone was happy to get a break outside on the terrace overlooking the plaza. After the guests went back into watch the second half I ran over to the David Koch Theater to photograph the room designed by Bill Tansey.
It was a fun night. Sting and Trudie danced by their table  as the dance floor was full to overflowing.
The dancers wore amazing jewels from Harry Winston who was the sponsor of the event.
To see all the photos please click on this PHOTO LINK

Black Alumni of Pratt 2018 Celebration of the Creative Spirit Award at the Park Hyatt Hotel.

On May 8th The Black Alumni of Pratt honored David Hockney the the Lifetime of Artistic Excellence Award, Naomi Campbell the Lifetime Achievement Award, Virgil Abloh the Creative Spirit Award and David & Joyce Dinkins the Inaugural David & Joyce Dinkins Pinnacle Award.
It was amazing to see so many creative people together for the dinner. David Hockney was so charming and gracious. Naomi was unable to attend so her friend Christy Turlington showed up to accept on her behalf.
Funds raised at the event go towards assisting BAP to continue to provide talented students of African and Latino decent stipends and scholarships.
Also present were the McCann WorldGroup who continues to partner with BAP providing Scholarships, Internships and employment to talented students.
To see all the photos please click PHOTO LINK

Ballet Hispanico Spring Gala at the Plaza Hotel In New York City

Monday night was the Ballet Hispanico Carnaval Gala 2018 celebrating the impact of Latino Leaders in America.
The evening honored Emilio and Gloria Stephan who could not have been nicer. When it came time to make a pledge of $15,000 for a full scholarship Glorias hand was the first to go up in the ballroom. Carolina Herrera was honored and was surprised by a fashion show carried out by the dancers from the Ballet Hispanico Company. Marcos Torres was also honored and he remarked on the help of a school teacher that turned his life around as a teenager growing up in NY having lost both his parents, There was hardly a dry eye in the room at the end of the speech. Then he asked us all to recognize the teacher with a warm round of applause as he pointed him out in the room. 
It was an evening about music and dance and paying it forward and helping others. It brought us all together. We got to see the school dancers and the company perform. There was also a group from New Orleans who had come up to NY to dance for the event. The company has been working with Ballet Hispanico too.
Emilio talked about the importance of roots and remembering where we come from while Gloria reminded us that the arts transcend age, race, religious and political lines and unites us all.
To see all my photos please click on this PHOTO LINK

On Stage at the Met Dinner Spring 2018

Sunday night was the On Stage Dinner at the Metropolitan Opera. It was such a beautiful and special event. Nothing can compare to sitting on the stage and looking out into the auditorium. One cause feel the sense of awe that the performers must feel as they perform in this magnificent hall.
And at the end of the night as the guests were leaving I heard one whisper  I can now say I have danced on the stage at the Met.
To see all the photos please click on this PHOTO LINK

New York City Ballet Spring Gal 2018

On May 3rd New York City Ballet held its Spring Gala at The David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in NY. As always it was a star studded event. On the red carpet there was great excitement because Sarah Jessica Parker was bring her beautiful little girls to see the Ballet.
The team from Cait and Jules did a wonderful job on the decor for the dinner. To see all my images please click on this PHOTO LINK

The 35th Central Park Conservancy’s annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Lunch

Last week was the 35th Central Park  Conservancy’s annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Lunch. What an amazing day it was. The weather was perfect, the blossom was in bloom and the hats were fabulous as were the women wearing them. Raising over 5 million dollars the event was a great success.
To see all my photos please click on the PHOTO LINK

The Save Venice Ball at the Pierre Hotel in New York

The room was full of royalty and masks.
To see all the photos please click on the Photo Link

Hope Funds for Cancer Research Dinner

The Hope Funds for Cancer Research, dedicated to advancing innovative research for the most difficult-to-treat cancers, recognized four of its research fellows at a white tie dinner on April 25, 2018, at The Harold Pratt House in New York City. Those recognized were Brian Abraham, Ph.D. and Peter K. Nicholls, Ph.D., both of the Whitehead Institute, Wen Tang, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, and Bernardo Tavora, Ph.D., of Rockefeller University. "The Hope Fund's mission is to work to identify the most promising research opportunities," stated Leah Rush Cann, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Hope Funds for Cancer Research Board of Trustees. "These young researchers exemplify our goal of awarding fellowships to those who demonstrate the greatest likelihood of making an impact on addressing the hardest-to-treat cancers.” 
Too see all the images please click on the PHOTO LINK