Los Angeles, CA—Artists, philanthropists, gallerists, collectors, and entertainment world notables gathered at the Hammer Museum’s 14th annual Gala in the Garden on Saturday, October 8, 2016.
The event was held in the Museum’s outdoor courtyard and honored artist and musician Laurie Anderson and filmmaker Todd Haynes. Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison, and Robert Soros served as co-chairs along with Bottega Veneta Creative Director Tomas Maier.
The evening included tribute speeches by author Karl Ove Knausgaard for Anderson and actress Sarah Paulson for Haynes, as well as a music performance by Rufus Wainwright, amidst a customized lantern installation created by designers Pedro&Juana. Hammer Museum Director Ann Philbin greeted guests such as January Jones, Laura Dern, Minnie Driver, Andie MacDowell, Patricia Arquette, Amanda Peet, Selma Blair, Will Ferrell, Emma Roberts, Alessandra Ambrosio, Isabel Lucas, Mamie Gummer, Jane Lynch, Elizabeth Chambers, Liz Goldwyn, Kim Gordon, Joel McHale, Sterling Ruby, Tom Ford, Catherine Opie and Lisa Eisner.
Past honorees include Paul McCarthy, Diane Keaton, Mark Bradford, Joni Mitchell, Robert Gober, Tony Kushner, Barbara Kruger, Cindy Sherman, Matt Groening, Lari Pittman, Alice Waters, Charles Ray, Miuccia Prada, John Baldessari, Joan Didion, Ed Ruscha, Dave Eggers, and Frank Gehry.
Bottega Veneta supports the Hammer Museum Gala in the Garden for the fourth consecutive year. This is in keeping with Bottega Veneta’s ongoing commitment to culture and the arts.
The sold-out Gala benefits the Hammer Museum at UCLA, in support of their renowned exhibitions and collections that span classic to contemporary art, as well as free public programs that spark meaningful encounters with art and ideas.
ABOUT THE HONOREES
Laurie Anderson
Laurie Anderson is a renowned—and daring—creative pioneer best known for her multimedia presentations and innovative use of technology. As a writer, director, visual artist, and vocalist she creates groundbreaking works that span the worlds of art, theater, and experimental music.
Anderson was deeply involved in the 1970s New York performance art scene, and an innovator in electronic music. Her work first became widely known outside the art world in 1981 when her single “O Superman” reached number two on the UK pop charts. Anderson’s live performances range from simple spoken word to elaborate multimedia events. She has produced many albums, including spoken word and live albums; collaborations with artists such as John Cage, John Zorn, and her longtime partner Lou Reed; and soundtracks to her documentary features. In 1982, Anderson was awarded a
Guggenheim Fellowship for her work in film, and in 1986 she starred in and directed the concert film Home of the Brave. Her 2015 film Heart of a Dog was screened at the Hammer and received widespread critical acclaim after being chosen as an official selection of the Venice and Toronto film festivals.
Anderson’s work, both visual and performative, has been featured in major museums such as MoMA, Tate Modern, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum, and the Walker Art Center. Anderson held the first artist residency at NASA, which culminated in a touring solo performance, The End of the Moon (2004), combining stories, songs, and music. Last year, her gripping and groundbreaking installation Habeas Corpus filled the Park Avenue Armory in New York, examining the story of one of the youngest detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Anderson lives in New York and recently completed a multi-year residency with UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance.
Todd Haynes
Todd Haynes is an acclaimed American independent film director and screenwriter. His films are daringly experimental, full of emotion, and beautiful. A native Angeleno, Haynes studied arts and semiotics at Brown University before moving to New York City where he made his controversial short film Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987). With his 1991 film Poison, Haynes made his debut as a film director and won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. His next film, Velvet Goldmine (1998), an homage to the early 1970s glam rock era, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it received a Special Jury Prize.
In 2002, Haynes won his first Academy Award for Far From Heaven, inspired by the 1950s melodramas of Douglas Sirk and exploring issues such as race, gender roles, and sexual orientation. His 2007 film, I’m Not There, imagined the life and work of Bob Dylan through the guise of seven fictional characters and won critical acclaim, especially for the cross-gender casting of Cate Blanchett, who received the Oscar nomination and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. Haynes directed and co-wrote Mildred Pierce (2011), a five-hour miniseries that garnered 21 Emmy nominations in addition to three Golden Globe Awards.
His most recent feature film, Carol, is based on Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt. Starring Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, and Rooney Mara, Carol depicts a forbidden romance between two women from disparate backgrounds set in 1950s New York City. Carol was screened at the Hammer as part of The Contenders, MoMA’s annual exhibition of films and received many accolades including six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe Award nominations, and nine BAFTA Award nominations.
Haynes lives in Portland, Oregon.
Images Courtesy of Billy Farrell Agency
Isabel Lucas and Andie Macdowell and Alessandra are in Bottega Veneta
