The Art of the Art Party

The Whitney Contemporaries, a patrons group for the art-curious aged 21 to 40, held its annual downtown bash last night at Skylight. This quote, by the Whitney's founder, summed up the spirit of the evening.

And so Calvin Klein, Bradley Cooper, oodles of models, fashion editors, and designers came together with artists and others in the art world, to raise money for the museum's Independent Study Program, which gives artists time and space and context to develop their work.

One side of the room was devoted to the display of art, and here the bona fide art crowd talked over the loud music. It's where we snapped gallery owner Lisa Cooley; curator and stylist Jessie Cohan; the director of the Whitney, Adam Weinberg, and artists Anthony Pearson and Rashid Johnson, whose work was on display at the event.

Here is Mr. Rashid's work:

And it's where we found atists E.V. Day, Will Cotton, and Whitney trustee Joanne Cassullo.

On the other side of the room, the music was louder, the lights darker, the vibe cozier and more flirtatious, but thanks to event design firm Van Wyck and Van Wyck, the crowd was still reminded -- in NEON -- that this party was about art.

We think they got the message, because over the course of the evening we saw many gather round the paintings, photographs, and other art work on display.

We'll have more posts later featuring individual artists we encountered at the party. Stay tuned.