El Museo del Barrio held its annual Gala on Wednesday, May 21 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Over 500 dinner guests were greeted with the signature Cipriani Bellini at 7pm, followed by dinner and welcoming remarks from Tony Bechara and Jorge Daniel Veneciano. Designer, Alejandro Ingelmo was honored with the Artistic Achievement Award, Present by Teen Vogue’s Editor in Chief, Amy Astley. Andy Unanue presented Maria Eugenia Maury and Dr. William A. Haseltine with the award, named in memory of his father, Joseph A. Unanue Trustee Leadership Award. The Gala Chair was CuCu Diamantes and the Gala Co-Chairs were Andrés Levin, Anita Durst, Lex Fenwick, and Cathy and Alex López Negrete.
Artist CuCu Diamantes asked friends Ray Smith to do an artist invention and Jessica Sophia Mitrani to do the artistic details, which complimented Jerónimo Gaxiola Balsa’s events décor. Gala Chair Cucu Diamantes put a spin on the night by bringing original art and sounds to the evening. Ray Smith’s series of wooden candelabras titled “Candelaria” was produced in his studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn. This was the finished first project for his studio since superstorm Sandy after the studio was destroyed in October 2012. This series of 50 unique sculptures was available at auction at the event.
Artist CuCu Diamantes asked friends Ray Smith to do an artist invention and Jessica Sophia Mitrani to do the artistic details, which complimented Jerónimo Gaxiola Balsa’s events décor. Gala Chair Cucu Diamantes put a spin on the night by bringing original art and sounds to the evening. Ray Smith’s series of wooden candelabras titled “Candelaria” was produced in his studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn. This was the finished first project for his studio since superstorm Sandy after the studio was destroyed in October 2012. This series of 50 unique sculptures was available at auction at the event.
This year’s Gala featured a memorable performance by Gala Chair CuCu Diamantes. Co-Chair Andrés produced the Gala’s entertainment, which included a special reunion performance by Yerba Buena, the Grammy nominated Latin fusion band which Andrés and CuCu founded. The opening performance was by The Pedrito Martínez Group. “This was an evening of great pride for Latins and an evening of great interest to non-Latins; we couldn’t possibly imagine a better moment for our band to make a special reunion appearance, the first in five years--- it was special. The gala was like no other with dancing till the wee hours,” said the Gala Chair. CuCu Diamantes performed with her band and with Levin’s reuniting their band " yerba buena" - and debuted her new song "Pecados de Picasso" (sins of Picasso) in collaboration with artist Ray Smith. The event’s décor and entertainment were both inspired by Pablo Picasso; the night was led by a group of music and visual artists donating their time to celebrate a museum that supports the El Museo community.
“The Gala inaugurated a new chapter in El Museo’s history. We honored great emerging talent together with great sustaining commitment—in Alejandro Ingelmo with Maria Eugenia Maury and William A. Haseltine. I am thrilled to be El Museo’s Director at this exciting moment of the museum’s rebirth,” said El Museo’s new Director, Jorge Daniel Veneciano.
The menu included: Roasted tri-color beets with haricot verts and crumbled goat cheese, wahyu strip loin steak with fresh herb mélange sauce, ricotta cheese cake with fresh strawberry sauce, miniature éclairs, strawberries dipped in bittersweet chocolate, assorted cookies, biscotti, miniature fruit tarts, Zonin Pinot Grigo and Zonin Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
Notable guests who attended include: Susan Sarandon, Gabriela Isler Miss Universe®, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Kiara Kabukurub, Grace Mahary, Ambassador Sandra Fuentes-Berain, Francois Payard, Jessica Joffe, Amy Astley, Carlos Campos, Ray Smith & Mark Seliger.
The menu included: Roasted tri-color beets with haricot verts and crumbled goat cheese, wahyu strip loin steak with fresh herb mélange sauce, ricotta cheese cake with fresh strawberry sauce, miniature éclairs, strawberries dipped in bittersweet chocolate, assorted cookies, biscotti, miniature fruit tarts, Zonin Pinot Grigo and Zonin Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
Notable guests who attended include: Susan Sarandon, Gabriela Isler Miss Universe®, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Kiara Kabukurub, Grace Mahary, Ambassador Sandra Fuentes-Berain, Francois Payard, Jessica Joffe, Amy Astley, Carlos Campos, Ray Smith & Mark Seliger.
Patrons who attended included: Carolina Alvarez-Mathies, Tony Bechara (Chair of El Museo’s Board), Estrellita Brodsky, Emerson Barth, Courtney Bennett, Ambassador Sandra Fuentes- Berain, Ali Cordero Casal, Doris Casap, Jill Demling, Anita Durst, Yaz and Valentin Hernández, Gaily and John Beinecke, Perla Capriles, Michael García, Francisco X. Gonzalez and Jeannette M. Baez, Frank Burgel and America Gonzalez, Florence Haseltine, Mara Haseltine, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Heimann, Mark Holgate, Warren James, Michael Kaiser, Susan Kaufman, Jerome Levy, Alexandra Lebenthal and Jeremy Diamond, Galerie Lelong, Cathy and Alex Lopez Negrete, Leslie Dumont and Fred Levin, Marcia and Richard Mishaan, Mary and Larry McCaffrey, Enrique Norten, Patricia and Ramiro Ortiz, Raphael Montanez Ortiz, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos and Paul Kanavos, Leticia and Rick Presutti, Keith Pollick, Roxanne Robinson, Tracey and Phillip Riese, Daniel Rachmanis, Patti and Juan Ruiz-Healy, Yolanda Santos, Ray Smith, Norma and David Smith, Pedro Torres, August Uribe, Carmen Ana Unanue, Andy and Marie Unanue, and Marie and Andy Unanue, Sabrina Wirth and Irene Zingg.
Images by Christine Shepherd, Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com Billy Farrell Agency, Jonathan Zeigler/ Patrick McMullan Company
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