The Century with Mushroom Clouds: Project for the 20th Century, 1996

Realized in New York City, looking toward Manhattan, April 20, 1996, approximately 3 seconds

Gunpowder (10 g) and cardboard tube

Photo by Hiro Ihara, courtesy Cai Studio

Inopportune: Stage One, 2004

Nine cars and sequenced multichannel light tubes

Dimensions variable
Seattle Art Museum, Gift of Robert M. Arnold, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum, 2006

© Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation New York. Photo by David Heald.

Exhibition copy installed at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 2008

Black Rainbow: Explosion Project for Valencia, 2005

Realized at Old Turia Riverbed Park, Between Royal Bridge and Trinidad Bridge, Valencia, May 22, 2005, 12:05 p.m, approximately 1 minute

1,400 three-inch black smoke shells

VANITY FAIR

The dust has settled, so it’s time to resume where everything left off.

The Subway is never as easy as it seems. I have spent the last two days exploring new ways to get to the east side of the middle of no where, that’s right, 750 3rd Ave. There is no subway that dumps you out right at the front door of the building, like at our previous building in Times Square, instead, you have to get off at Grand Central and walk. On Tuesday morning, JJ and I braved the JMZ and took it downtown because I thought we would be able to get on the green line. Nope, turns out we had to take the yellow line to Union Square and transfer to the express. I have made note that that way is not acceptable. Then this morning, coming in from Williamsburg, I took the L to Union Square and jumped on the green express. It is not a simple process folks. I am thoroughly disappointed with the fact that there is no subway line farther east of Lexington. Tomorrow is another day, I believe that I will try taking the F train, either way, the morning commute is not a fun one.

Last night was the (RED) Auction, held at Southeby’s, which raised over $40 million to fight AIDS in Africa. The charity auction organized by Bono, Damien Hirst, Southeby’s, Gagosian Gallery and many other artists, was the most significant charity auction of Contemporary Art ever. The proceeds went to the United Nations Foundation to support HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa conducted by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

From the press office of Southeby’s:

Bono opened the auction with an a capella rendition of “All You Need Is Love” before a star-studded crowd, including Queen Noor, John McEnroe, Takashi Murakami, Martha Stewart, Dennis Hopper, Michael Stipe, Helena Christensen, Liya Kebede, Russell Simmons, Brian Williams, Ziyi Zhang, Ed Burns and Christy Turlington, who purchased Francesco Clemente’s Red Flower on Scorched Earth for $170,500 (lot 61, est. $50/70,000*). The auction achieved $42.58 million, far beyond its high estimate (est. $21/29 million), and records were set for seventeen artists, including Marc Quinn, Banksy, Howard Hodgkin, Keith Tyson and Bernar Venet. Among the many highlights of the evening was Damien Hirst’s Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way, a pill cabinet which is filled with HIV antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV, which sold for $7,150,000 (lot 54, est. $5/7 million). The sale had been preceded by a preview exhibition of the works at Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea. Damien Hirst contacted dozens of the world’s leading artists to ask them to contribute works for the auction inspired by the colour red and the concept of love. Their response was exceptional, with offers of major works Matthew Barney, Georg Baselitz, Cecily Brown, Douglas Gordon, Antony Gormley, Subodh Gupta, Andreas Gursky, Sir Howard Hodgkin, Gary Hume, Jasper Johns, Anish Kapoor, Anselm Kiefer, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Marc Newson, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Richard Prince, Marc Quinn, Ed Ruscha, Yinka Shonibare, Sam Taylor-Wood, Keith Tyson and Bernar Venet, among others.

Damien Hirst himself contributed seven works to the auction, which together made a spectacular total of $19,085,000. In addition to There’s A Will, There’s A Way, the highlights were a red rectangular butterfly painting entitled Love You, which sold for $3,300,000 (lot 53, est. $1/1.5 million) and a re heart-shaped butterfly painting entitled All You Need is Love, which brought $2,420,000 (lot 16, est. $1/1.5 million).

Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said: “What is particularly exciting about tonight is that in addition to being a major art event, every dollar generated will help the Global Fund purchase life-saving AIDS treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. On behalf of the Global Fund and the people we serve, thank you to everyone here tonight – (RED), Damien Hirst and all of the artists who contributed, Sotheby’s, and all the buyers.” Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s Senior Specialist of Contemporary Art in London, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the phenomenal total of over $40 million that was raised tonight for AIDS in Africa. It was an extraordinary evening.” Cheyenne Westphal, Sotheby’s Chairman of Contemporary Art for Europe, continued: “The real stars of tonight are the artists who so generously gave their works to benefit this worthy cause.”

Larry Gagosian of Gagosian Gallery added: “The results speak for themselves. If you put together great artists who have created highly desirable works for a worthy cause, success will inevitably follow. I commend Damien, Bono and all the artists on this incredible achievement.”

For more information please check out the following website:

http://www.sothebys.com/images/home/flash/red2007/

Photos by Pierre Charriau

Happy Valentine’s Day.

I hope that everyone gets some loving from someone in their life, whether it be from a boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, mother/father, brother/sister, dog/cat. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the guy that I am dating. Thank you.

I am off to spend the day in the sun, as our office is closed until next Tuesday.

Don’t forget to stop by the Barney’s Warehouse sale:

Photo By Pamela Hansen

So our offices are moving to a new building, one that is far away from Times Square, and even farther from my house. As of right now, my desk is stark naked, except both of my Rolodex, the latest issue of L’Uomo Vogue, a shoot folder and my phone.

It has been such a rushed month so far, I have such a long list of things to do, and all I can think about are red velvet cupcakes. Last week in the midst of all the chaos I decided to pick up some Sudafed, to relieve the symptoms of my cold, and by accident took the drowsy formula, putting me in a daze for hours, but I am beginning to think I am still under the influence of Sudafed as my list is still here and nothing has been crossed off. I need to send in my taxes, or rather I need to send over all my documents to my accountant, and I desperately need to get some new music. The same play list has been on repeat for weeks now.

Thank goodness that I have a four day weekend, even though when I know I have lots of time, I put things off until the very absolute last minute.

Opening today, at BAM, Brooklyn Academy of Music Harvey Theatre, is director Rupert Goold’s take on the Shakespeare play Macbeth, starring former Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart. Tonight’s performance is sold out as well as tomorrow, if you are interested in going, I highly suggest getting tickets ASAP.

Today, February 12th, Vanity Fair launches VF Insider, a new site that shows people the season’s latest and greatest. Visitors will be able to shop for what’s hot, download the daily widget, create their own “It” list & enter to win an exclusive shopping getaway to NYC. Visit Vanity Fair Insider today.

All’s well that ends well….

Fashion week came to a close with the Marc Jacobs show. Miraculously it started within 20 minutes of the time printed on the invite, whereas in past seasons, his shows started almost an hour late. Sonic Youth did a live performance, Victoria Beckham sat front row, and Marc had blue hair. Other than that, the show was nothing spectacular, in fact I found the collection quite boring, the clothing lacked shape and femininity and was just poorly executed.

The after party proved to be more exciting, as MIA deejayed a great set, I absolutely adore her, so in my eyes she could do no wrong. Above are the only pictures that came out from my camera, for more vibrant and fun pics, check out Mark’s photography on the cobrasnake. Next we went on to Annex, where Agyness Deyn stood by and watched her boyfriend Josh Hubbard of The Paddingtons perform. After a round of tequila shots and plenty of g&t’s it was home for the night.