Daily Front Row

2008 May 20

Art and Commerce

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Deborah Needleman in Temperley with Beth Brenner, Dan Tietz, and Francisco Costa
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(NEW YORK) Where art is on sale, fash-insiders will flock. The chicettes were out in droves at Acria's Unframed art sale, which kicked off last night with a cocktail party hosted with Domino and ACRIA executive director Dan Tietz. Seventeen artists including Donald Baechler, Kevin Baker, Marilyn Minter and Lou Reed donated between 1 and 100 pieces, which sold for prices between $300 and $1,200. All proceeds benefit the AIDS research charity. (Last night, over $112,000 was raised!) Tietz mounted his makeshift stage--an innocuous bench--to thank guests and artists for their generosity. "ACRIA is not just about great parties and fabulous art," he said. "Though it should be!"  Beth Rudin DeWoody served as guest curator. "I just asked artists that I knew or galleries I worked with for donations," she said."People were very generous. You can get great deals here!"

Deborah Needleman popped in, jealously eyeing pieces that were already taken along with editor at large Tom Deladin. "It's amazing," she quipped. "The caliber of artist here is incredible. It's the most painless way to give money to a charity!" Incoming! Francisco Costa, who showed his resort collection earlier in the day. "Everything went great!" he said. "We had very good karma." The CFDA's Steven Kolb was already gearing up for the upcoming awards ceremony. "Two weeks from tonight we'll be all dressed up!" he exclaimed.

The gallery is open to the public this evening from 5-8 p.m. Admission costs $20. Half of the donated works were set aside for the public. Who said art isn't for the masses?
BIANCA POSTERLI