By Bettina Zilkha
Posted 04/15/11 at 04:20 PM
"This is a five-second film. Have a nice day. We'll be closing in 10 minutes," said the guard at the exit to the packed Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea, New York City, at 7:50 p.m. But no one was leaving anytime soon.
The movie the guard was talking about was rare footage of Marie-Thérèse, Picasso's longtime lover and muse. Picasso met Marie-Thérèse when she was just shy of 18 and he was a married, established artist well into his 40s. Some of his best work is inspired by this beautiful, vibrant woman, said to be the model for several of the figures in "Guernica."
Curated by John Richardson and Diana Widmaier-Picasso—Marie-Thérèse and Picasso's Granddaughter—the exhibit brings together a comprehensive look at the May-December relationship between artist and muse that lasted for decades, throughout Picasso's other romances, marriages and divorces.
"I wanted people to know Marie-Thérèse beyond being a sleeping muse, to bring her to life, and it's the first major show that's been made on the subject," said Widmaier-Picasso, who was instrumental in pulling this museum-quality exhibit together.
By Bennett Marcus
Posted 04/15/11 at 12:50 PM
Good Housekeeping’s Shine On awards, a benefit for the National Women’s History Museum, brought a slew of high-profile females to Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday. Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow, Goldie Hawn, Rebecca Romijn, Lake Bell, and Ashley Tisdale all took the stage—and they were only the presenters. Honorees, “women making history,” included Christy Turlington, for her work to improve prenatal health, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, and education advocate Michelle Rhee.
During the ceremony, Kathy Ireland and Camilla Belle gave a moving tribute to two recently departed icons, Elizabeth Taylor and Geraldine Ferraro.
But this was not just an evening of speeches; it was a theatrical event with performances by Eve, Lee Ann Womack, and, amazingly, Trisha Yearwood, who rarely ventures to New York.
So how did Good Housekeeping EIC Rosemary Ellis lure the country music superstar? “She is a generous, lovely person, and she is my friend,” Ellis said. “And she knows what we’re trying to do here; she and Garth [Brooks, Yearwood’s husband] both do a lot of charitable endeavors, and they understand that we’re trying to raise money tonight for something important.”
By Bettina Zilkha
Posted 04/13/11 at 05:45 PM
A benefit that's not stuffy, feels like a private party, has spectacular décor, very few speeches, and makes you want to dance all night is a rare event to come by, but the New Yorkers for Children: A Fool's Fete Spring Dance is just that. The people who organized this gem of an evening, which benefits youth in foster care and drew celebrities like Rose McGowan, Kerry Washington, and Kate Bosworth, were certainly not fools. The Indian-themed dinner, with interior design by David Stark, was a feast for the eyes and the lighting made everyone look their best. Sexy dresses designed by the evening's presenting sponsor Soigné Kothari, aka Soigne K, looked incredible on chairpersons Allison Aston, Rory Hermelee, and Marisa Brown, whose back view made us marvel at how spectacular so little coverage could look.
Honorary chair Dayssi Kanavos discussed the secret of the event's continuing success: have a long cocktail hour so everyone can catch up (and bid on the silent auction), and keep the speeches to a minimum. Aspiring benefit organizers, take note!
Selita Ebanks, looking beautiful in Balenciaga, is a big fan of the NYFC. "When I was a child, I was in foster care for almost two years. It was a terrible time in my life, but my mother got us back," she explained. "I just want kids to know that you should never feel victimized, you should always pursue your goals, and you can conquer anything."
By Susan Fales-Hill
Posted 04/11/11 at 03:30 PM
The Eternal Feminine: Deneuve and Delavallade, portraits of ladies, aging gracefully.
On the Air France flights to and from Paris, I had the pleasure of watching the preternaturally beautiful Catherine Deneuve in her most recent film, Potiche, Trophy Wife. First of all, let’s give a standing ovation to a film industry that places a woman over 60 at the center of a romantic comedy. I think porcine flight will occur before any major Hollywood studio graces us with such a gift.
Second, though the film is a not without its flaws (one or two slapstick portrayals,) Deneuve’s performance is masterful in its subtlety as she limns the progression of a woman from eternally cheerful family doormat, to intelligent, self possessed career woman.
Then, there is her physical presence, which is quite frankly breathtaking. She’s no longer the sylph of Belle du Jour, but with her erect posture, chiseled features, and palpable femininity. she could seduce any man from 16 to “at death’s door.” In fact, she could probably rouse a few dead men if she chose, or at the very least make Viagra obsolete. She’s not trussed like a holiday turkey and yet reminds us with every confident step that aging need not be synonymous with withering.
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