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Actor Paul Giamatti is Honored by the Denali Foundation for the Artsby Helene Condon, Art Report Today Society Editor It was all about the art at the Denali Foundation's fifth annual fundraising event. A light breeze could be felt on the rooftop of the Yale Club of New York City this past Thursday evening as an intimate group of one hundred guests gathered for a private affair—an unveiling of a portrait of an Oscar-nominated film star. Renowned classical portrait artist Graydon Parrish had painted Paul Giamatti.
Parrish is best known for The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy, an allegorical tribute to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The painting was commissioned by the New Britain Museum of American Art. As of 2018, the Denali Foundation has sponsored over thirty schools and programs with art supplies. Five schools are in the New York City area and that number is expected to double in 2020—thanks to a generous donation from New York Congresswoman Carolyn Malone, who was expected to attend the event, but was called to DC for the wake of her colleague Elijah Cummings. Her two daughters, Virginia and Christina Maloney, represented the arts-minded Congresswoman.
The tables were named after schools and programs the foundation has supported and each person received a hand-painted thank you card from the students of New York Public School 142. The centerpieces for each able were a collection of art supplies. The guests were encouraged to draw on the paper table cloths (Giamatti was seen sketching cartoon characters) and following the event, all the supplies were gathered and donated to local New York school PS 59—one of the schools that the foundation frequently sponsors. The auction featured items such as a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Graydon Parrish, a day spent with Paul Giamatti on the set of Billions, and a trip for two to Mount Everest’s base camp, which includes an excursion to the Sagarmatha Next Center, an arts and education facility sponsored by the foundation which will hold six-week residency programs for artists who wish to experience creation in the Himalayas.
The evening honored New York artist Pamela Talese for her brightly colored still life paintings. Artists of all kinds were in noticeable attendance as the “Creative Black Tie” dress code served well. New York artist Robert Mango delivered impeccably in a purple suede suit, while silhouette artist Cindi Rose created a headdress featuring her silhouettes. Denali Foundation founder Sequoia Schmidt wore a Jackson Pollock inspired light blue silk gown flung with paint, which was created in Robert Mango’s gallery. The evening featured musical performances by Grammy winning artist Hernan Romero, and live painting by West Coast based artist Taft McWhorter.
Other notable attendees were artist honoree Pamela Talese’s parents: author Gay Talese and editor Nan Talese. Also seen were Guinness World Record holder Venessa O’Brien, seven-time Emmy Award winner Peter Schnall, Sierra Global Management founder Charlie Michaels, artist Robert Mango, art collector Tony Buzbee and many others. This is the foundation’s fifth gala overall and first event in New York City. The evening raised a gross amount of $120,000 (netting $90,000).
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