Inside Aperture's 2018 Spring Party

On April 6, guests were decked out in vibrant floral patterns inspired by blooms to celebrate Aperture’s forthcoming book, The Photographer in the Garden.

The 2018 Aperture Spring Party, held on April 6, was a much-anticipated happening for photography enthusiasts in New York during The Photography Show presented by AIPAD. Guests were decked out in vibrant floral patterns inspired by blooms—on dresses, skirts, blazers, and jumpsuits. Celebrating the pre-launch of Aperture’s forthcoming book The Photographer in the Garden, the nearly three hundred guests who attended enjoyed an evening of food, music, and dancing with Garden’s coauthors Sarah Anne McNear and Jamie M. Allen. The event was sponsored by Sb Cooper and R. L. Besson, Besson/Cooper Fund, and cohosted by McNear, along with Martha Stewart and Ginger and Stephen Shore. All event ticket and auction proceeds support Aperture serving the art, story, and community of photography through publications and educational programs with the world’s leading artists, scholars, and authors.

A familial pre-party dinner with approximately one hundred of Aperture’s closest friends took place on the seventeenth floor of the Public Hotel with panoramic views of Manhattan. Guests were seated with Garden contributors, including McNear, Shore, Allen, and photographers Tina Barney and Sharon Core. Barney and Core, along with Daniel Gordon, contributed prints to a live auction conducted by Alex Berggruen of Christie’s. Dinner guests received gratis copies of Martha’s Flowers and The Photographer in the Garden, gifted by Martha Stewart and Aperture trustee Michael Hoeh.

The Spring Party, held at Public Arts, was hosted by Aperture’s Connect Member group of young leaders and other individuals. Guests sipped on cucumber and mint cocktails courtesy of VDKA 6100 and posed around the photo set powered by HYPNO, with a vibrant floral installation by Saipua and a neon Aperture sign. Among the mix of guests who attended were Darius Himes, Dr. Deborah Willis, Spike Jonze, Angela Dimayuga, Andrea and Gabrielle d’Avack, Leonard Lauder and Judy Glickman Lauder, Elizabeth Ann Kahane, Ethan James Green, Alex and Rebecca Webb, John Chiara, Mitch Epstein, and Penelope Umbrico. The highlight of the night was a soulful performance by Brooklyn native singer-songwriter Zsela, accompanied by Daniel Aged on piano. (Zsela is currently working on a debut release for later this year.) Alix Brown wrapped up the night with sets that inspired a lively dance party until after midnight.

Courtesy of Patrick McMullan Company, click here to view photos from the event. Additionally, view the HYPNO booth photos by clicking here.

Aperture wishes to thank cohosts Martha Stewart, Ginger and Stephen Shore, and Sarah Anne McNear; sponsors Sb Cooper and R. L. Besson, Besson/Cooper Fund; George Eastman Museum’s Jamie M. Allen; all of the contributing Garden photographers; Christie’s; photograph magazine; Saipua; VDKA 6100; Zsela; Daniel Aged; and Alix Brown.

Additional thanks goes to the Leaders, the Host and the Spring Party Committees, and to all of the Aperture staff, work scholars, volunteers, and ambassadors for their support, time, and dedication.

Sponsors

Sb Cooper and R. L. Besson, Besson/Cooper Fund

Leaders

Allan Chapin and Anna Rachminov
Anonymous
Bill and Victoria Cherry
Cathy M. Kaplan
Elaine Goldman and John Benis
Nion McEvoy
Thomas R. Schiff

Host Committee

Anne and Kurt Locher
Anonymous
Betsy Evans Hunt and Christopher Hunt
Darius Himes, Christie’s
Darlene Kaplan and Steve Zuckerman
Dr. Albert Knapp and Dr. Ruth Oratz
Elizabeth Ann Kahane
Hemant Kanakia and Sonalde Desai
Howard Greenberg
Jessica Nagle and Roland Hartley-Urquhart
Kate Cordsen
L.C. Wisnewski
Leonard and Judy Lauder
Malú Alvarez
Mark and Elizabeth Levine
Martha Stewart
Michael Hoeh
Missy and Jim O’Shaughnessy
Mrs. John (Susan) Gutfreund
M&T Charitable Foundation
Peter Barbur and Tim Doody
Rita Anthoine
Sarah McNear and Ian Wardropper
Victoria Schorsch
Whit Williams
Willard Taylor and Virginia Davies

Spring Party Committee

Alexander Hurst
Angela Dimayuga
Dianna Cohen
Liz Grover
Liz Higgins
Michael Sbabo
Paula Naughton
Sam Pritzker
Sarah F. Haimes
Tanya and David Wells
Tim Matusch
Todd Wiener