The 25th anniversary of ARTWALK NY, benefiting the Coalition for the Homeless, will be held on November 18, 2019 at Spring Studios in Manhattan. ARTWALK will be presented this year by the esteemed Italian fashion house Max Mara and will honor the artistic achievements of Katherine Bernhardt and generous philanthropic support of Michael Platt. ARTWALK’s dynamic benefit committee is chaired by Jane Holzer, Maria Giulia Maramotti, Roya Sachs and CANADA Gallery.
For 25 years, ARTWALK has united New York’s foremost artists, activists, and philanthropists behind the Coalition for the Homeless’ mission to end mass homelessness in New York City and bring immediate relief to homeless men, women and children. Each year more than 100 artists donate exceptional works to the live and silent auctions, and over 750 guests come to bid on the pieces while enjoying the lively and convivial atmosphere that has marked ARTWALK as a highlight of the fall art season. The live auction, presided over by auctioneer Aileen Agopian, will include a work by honoree Katherine Bernhardt, as well as Jenny Holzer, Louise Fishman, Nate Lowman, Rob Wynne, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman and others.
Bernhardt is best known for her bright, large-scale paintings, often made with fluid gestures in clashing colors. Limited edition dinner plates featuring Bernhardt’s iconic work The Acrobatic Dance will also be for sale at the event, and a small number will be made available on Artsy. The plates, produced by Prospect NY exclusively for ARTWALK, will sell for $150 each, or $500 for a set of four. The proceeds from the plate sales supports the Coalition’s mobile soup kitchen. Each plate purchased provides hot meals to 75 homeless New Yorkers. See images here.
Philanthropic Honoree Michael Platt Michael Platt is co-founder and CEO of BlueCrest Capital Management and has become one of the most significant supporters of the Coalition through his innovative approach to funding charitable work.
“We are so excited to be honoring Katherine Bernhardt and Michael Platt at this milestone 25th anniversary of ARTWALK. Their compassion, creativity and generosity have had a huge impact on our city and on the Coalition’s ability to provide lifesaving services to homeless New Yorkers,” said Dave Giffen, Executive Director of Coalition for the Homeless. “The support and social activism of the arts community has been integral to the Coalition’s fight to end mass homelessness in our city, and for the past 25 years ARTWALK has been a wonderful opportunity to highlight that support and thank visionary artists like Katherine Bernhardt for all that they do. It is also entirely fitting that the Philanthropic Honoree for our 25th anniversary event is Michael Platt, whose tremendous support of the Coalition has been key in facilitating the recent expansion of our frontline programs serving thousands of homeless men, women and children every day.”
The silent auction will feature works by Eric Fischl, Sheree Hovesepian, Walter Robinson, Deborah Kass, Ai Weiwei and more. All works will be available for pre-bidding on Artsy beginning November 1st. Additional auction support provided by art stewardship partner Crozier. DJs Mia Moretti and Elle Dee will provide the soundtrack for the evening, and a selection of New York’s top restaurants will offer tastings, including Claudette, Colonia Verde, Indochine, Cafe Luxembourg, Wild Ink, Jay’s Brooklyn, Cafeteria and Houseman. Cocktails will be provided thanks to Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hendrick’s Gin, Milagro Tequila, and Flor de Cana Rum.
“As a steadfast patron of the arts, Max Mara is proud to continue its support of Artwalk NY and the Coalition for the Homeless for their unyielding dedication to enhancing the lives of the greater community,” said Maria Giulia Maramotti, Max Mara Global Brand Ambassador and granddaughter to the founder.
THE CAUSE
Tonight, nearly 62,000 New Yorkers, including 22,000 children, will sleep in NYC homeless shelters. Thousands more will bed down in doorways, subways and other public places in a daily struggle for survival. Each year, ARTWALK NY raises critical funds to support the Coalition’s 11 lifesaving programs that provide emergency food and clothing, eviction prevention, crisis services, permanent housing, job training and programs for youth to 3,500 homeless and at-risk men, women and children each day. The event also helps raise awareness about the homelessness crisis and the Coalition’s ongoing fight for the proven, humane and cost-effective solutions that will end mass homelessness.
For more information on ARTWALK NY and to preview the art works and buy tickets, visit www.artwalkny.org