New York – Last night, Keith Rubenstein and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn hosted artist Lucien Smith’s Macabre Suite, a one-night only art installation and epic party in the South Bronx to celebrate the purchase and the revitalization of the historic South Bronx Piano District by Rubenstein’s Somerset Partners.
Guests including Gigi Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Kendall Jenner, Carmelo Anthony, Adrien Brody, Baz Luhrmann, Maxwell, Dev Hynes, Swizz Beatz, Hailey Baldwin enjoyed the spectacular line up of musical performances from Frankie Bones, Kool Herc, Mess Kid, Lucas Vercetti, Tigga Calore, DJ Chase B with a finale by Travis Scott. Artists & designers included Walton Ford, Thomas Hayo, Dustin Yellin, Leo Villareal, Gaetano Pesce, Shelter Serra, Bjarke Ingels and Daniel Libeskind. Fashion was represented by Michele Lamy, John Varvatos, Brian Atwood, Max Osterweis, Carlos Souza, Carlos Mota, and Claire Distenfeld with many models such as Ruby Aldridge, Johannes Huebl, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Eniko Mihalik, Dree Hemingway, Andreja Pejic and Renata Zandonadi; others enjoying the festivities included Asia Chow, Jamie Tisch, Atlanta de Cadenet, Yvonne Force, Michael Avedon, Nellee Hooper, Mark Rockefeller, Casey Spooner, Vladimir Roitfeld and Kristen Joy Watts, among many others who partied til’ 2 am.
Flashing lights of various hues of deep purple, burgundy, and bright green, bathed the warehouse in a lively yet morose vibe, befitting the season and curated by Bronson Van Wyck.
The outdoor scene was just as dynamic with food trucks from Roberta’s Black Tab, Eat Morris, and Korilla BBQ doling out local New York treats while flaming tarnished barrels provided a respite from the crisp fall weather.
Widely considered one of the most gifted artists of his generation, Lucien Smith conceived Macabre Suite as an “art happening” inspired by the medieval genre danse macabre. A three-part exhibition evoking the season’s morbid undertones, Macabre Suite consisted of a special dance performance by Kobe Kanty borrowing from a wide range of traditional movements such as Sioux Ghost Dance and Japanese Butoh, a central sculpture which was part of Smith’s “Scrap Metal” series and a selection of oil paintings and video.
Drawing together guests from all facets of New York, the party is a reflection of the city’s changing tapestry. Aiming to transform the South Bronx into an arts and culture destination, Rubenstein will use its relationships in the art, entertainment and hospitality industries to curate existing sites with galleries, bars, cafes and restaurants.
