Representing the media was Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey. Bailey and the other female guests, like Whitney Patrons Fern Kessler and Ginavra Caltagirone Guarducci and actress/author/designer Jane Seymour stuck to a strict dress code: black dress, usually sleeveless, and dramatic diamond or pearl jewelry. That, along with some seriously vintage facelifts, harkened back to a day when men all had strong chins and women all had hats to match their gloves. Directly after I formed this opinion, Tony Bennett cruised down the red carpet winking and grinning a sly grin. This was an old school event- backers and their artists mingling over cocktails and steak. according to the Whitney.
The artists themselves came out in full force: Justine and Jeff Koons, Lisa de Kooning, Phillip Lorca DiCorcia, Terry Winters, and Cory Arcangel, who played the role of eccentric artist perfectly in sneakers and a baseball cap over his tuxedo. But the real belle of the ball was Chuck Close. In his round red glasses, where Close rolled, everyone followed. They hung on his words, and I can’t blame them. The man has the charisma of a politician, the humor of a backroom comedian and the smile of a child. Ironically, despite being one of the most recognizable figures at the event, Close is unable to recognize anyone. According to his Wikipedia page, he is afflicted with prosopagnosia (face blindness), a condition which prevents him from recognizing faces.
