In a vibrant kickoff to Pride Month, Jordan Roth was the guest of honor at a luncheon and tour at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City. The event, hosted by Chair Emerita Barbara Tober and Director Tim Rodgers, celebrated two compelling exhibitions currently on display: OUT of the Jewelry Box and Identity Is…. These exhibitions explore themes of queerness, identity, and artistic expression through unique and thought-provoking pieces.

The OUT of the Jewelry Box exhibition features 56 works on loan from The Porter Price Collection. This collection showcases wearable art from a queer perspective, delving into themes such as AIDS, closetedness, and identity. MAD Curator Elissa Auther explained, “This art is designed to make us think differently about what jewelry can be, and appreciate queerness from perspectives we don’t usually see.” This collection, worn and given by two gay men, Ron Porter and Joe Price, is a first of its kind for the gallery.

Identity Is…, another highlight of the event, features a coat designed by Michael Sylvan Robinson for Jordan Roth to wear at the 2021 Met Gala. The coat, currently displayed in the Barbara Tober Grand Atrium, is hand-stitched into a collage with pieces of art and fragments of Roth’s writing. “We are conditioned to think of art as only that which is framed or put on a pedestal—some art is worn, some art is hung on the ear or the neck,” noted Roth. He praised MAD’s curatorial rigor and its platform that allows visitors to see art in its many forms.

Barbara Tober, a longtime friend of Jordan’s mother, Daryl Roth, expressed her pride in celebrating Pride at MAD. “Pride has always been an integral part of this museum,” she said. Tim Rodgers added, “Craft has always been intertwined with the queer community, and it is important to celebrate that. As a gay man who has been out throughout his career, it is a pleasure to lead this institution.”

The event was graced by notable guests including MAD Board Chair Michele Cohen, Bjorn Amelan and Bill Jones, Frederick Anderson, Mickey Boardman, Louis Bofferding, Randall Bourscheidt, Ron Chereskin, Dan Clay (A.K.A Carrie Dragshaw), Jamie deRoy, Lee Fryd, Kelly Graham and Will Fleming, Alvin Hall, David Hochberg, Tony Ingrao, Richie Jackson, Paolo Martino and Frank Riti, Bob Morris, Michael Musto, Tinu Naija, Wang Newton, Cheryl Riley, Scott Rothkopf, Sophie Sumner, Bronson Van Wyck, and MAD Curators Elissa Auther and Barbara Paris Gifford.

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