PREMIERE ISSUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
C E L E B R A T I N G
L G B T Q
D E S I G N
&
S T Y L E
TRUE BLUE WATCHES IN BED
WITH ELLEN
THE STYLISH MIND OF JARVIS WONG
HOT DESIGN
MSNBC'S THOMAS ROBERTS TOM OF FINLAND MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD STONEWALL
E X U B E R A N C E . C O M
ARCHITECT
DAVID MANN AT HOME
THE
NEW
TRADITIONAL FALL 2017 COLLECTION
JOIN THE COMFOR T CLUB Our new loyalty program offers 20% savings every day and exclusive access to special offers & services. Contact a signature store or visit mgbwhome.com for details. FEATURING: GIGI SOFA AND SWIVEL CHAIR, JAMES WING CHAIR, BEVERLY COCKTAIL TABLE AND BAR CART, VIENNA SIDE TABLE, TONIO LAMP, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS, ASSORTED BARWARE AND GLASS VASES, SHIMMER RUG, KINGSLEY-GLACIER DRAPES WITH BRASS HARDWARE
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SEPTEM B ER 2017 | VOLU M E 1 | N U M B ER 1
86 DEPARTMENTS
6 E X U B E R A N C E . C O M
82 FEATURES
58 THE ODD COUPLE Designer David Scott and partner Alex Pashkowsky in their U.N. Plaza abode
66 MINIMAL TO THE MAX The country and city homes of designer David Mann and his partner, Fritz Karch
74 THE STYLISH MIND of Jarvis Wong 76 FRENCH CONNECTION Valerie Pasquiou's urban aerie in the Financial District
82 FAMILY AFFAIR The city life of MSNBC's Thomas Roberts, husband Patrick Abner, and Roxy the dog
86 A SENSE OF MAGIC Entertaining guru David Monn's world of enchantment
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIMON UPTON INTERIOR DESIGN BY DAVID MANN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JOSHUA MCHUGH (ROBERTS); CHLOE CRESPI (MONN)
10 THAT MAKES SENSE A letter from the editor 17 ESSENTIALS Hot stuff 24 FAMILY JEWELS Navy blue watches 26 PETTED The Bulldog is back! 28 WORLD VIEW San Miguel de Allende 34 PRIVATE LABEL In bed with Ellen 36 PSYCHE A tribute to Tom House 38 STRUCTURE LGBT Historic Sites Project 41 DOSSIER Get cultured 44 IN PERSON Star-struck: Martyn Lawrence Bullard 46 CURTAIN Paul Tazewell designs Broadway 48 RUNWAY Zero Waste Daniel cuts up 50 ENTREPRENEUR Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 96 TOUCHSTONE Stonewall's moment
C E L E B R A T I N G
L G B T Q
D E S I G N
SEPTEMBER 2017
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR DESIGN EDITOR FASHION & BEAUTY CONTIRBUTING EDITOR STYLE EDITORS
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
G. JASON KONTOS
DEBORAH L. MARTIN JIYON SON NICOLE HADDAD KAITLIN CLARK
BETSY MARX ROBIN LONG MAYER JACQUELINE GONNET ERIKA RILEY JILL SIERACKI VERONICA WALTON
MOD MEDIA, LLC PUBLISHER
LISA BEN-ISVY
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PHOTO ANDREA FERRARI | STYLING STUDIOPEPE | AD GARCIA CUMINI
UNIT Design García Cumini
Cesar FlagshIp sTore 50 West 23rd St New York – NY 10010 Tel. 212 505 2000 www.cesarnyc.com cesar.it
THAT MAKES SENSE
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Jason Kontos Editorial Director
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10 E X U B E R A N C E . C O M
ILLUSTRATION BY EH FULLER
came out when I was 20, and I was madly in love with my partner, James. We lived in Greenwich Village because we felt comfortable there, and we were surrounded by people like us. In the Village, on Fire Island, or in Provincetown or Key West, we felt free to hold hands, while in other places we could not. I always thought that was unfair. But here in New York, across the country, and indeed, the world, life is changing. I am glad to see young gay men and women holding hands with their partners, and even kissing in public. Marriage equality, though a long time coming, is finally the law of this land, and in some parts of the world elected leaders are members of the LGBTQ community. In 2015, Luxembourg’s prime minister Xavier Bettel married his partner, Gauthier Destenay. And this year, Ireland elected Prime Minister Leo Varadkar— he is both gay and the child of immigrant parents. Sláinte! We have a long way to go, but every day change happens. The word is out—we are all equal, and fabulously different! In the world of publishing, I have long felt that we were overdue for a magazine like Exuberance, and so here we are. I have been an editor at 11 shelter magazines and I am so thrilled to launch this one, a celebration and confirmation of the LGBTQ community. In every issue we will be shining a light on the amazing and creative people who make the world fabulous. LGBTQ people are a driving force behind design in all its forms, from interiors, architecture, fashion, and theater, to film, food, music, and art… well let’s face it, we’re everywhere! Welcome to Exuberance!
JARVISSTUDIO creates a modern and eclectic look using luxurious finishes and materials with bespoke detailing and artisan craftsmanship, combining the best of classical and vintage elements with a contemporary attitude. We are a team of dedicated designers who incorporate fashion, architecture, and art into our work. Our goal is to create projects that are elegant, sophisticated, refined, and timeless without losing sight of comfort and functionality. JARVISSTUDIO is a New York based interior design firm with an international clientele from New York, Hong Kong, Paris, London and Istanbul.
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T H E R I T Z - C A R LT O N , B A L H A R B O U R T H E R I T Z - C A R LT O N , B A L H A R B O U R THE SEA VIEW HOTEL THE SEA VIEW HOTEL
T H E S T. R E G I S B A L H A R B O U R R E S O R T T H E S T. R E G I S B A L H A R B O U R R E S O R T
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
W
e are so proud to introduce our new luxury design and lifestyle magazine, Exuberance. As the publisher of New York Spaces— our sister interiors magazine—we delight in focusing on design in the home. In Exuberance, we celebrate the way people live and showcase their homes for what they are—an extension of the homeowners’ personalities. We also, of course, delve into design in all its forms, including fashion, art, and jewelry. I have spent years immersed in the worlds of fashion and design, surrounded by fabulously talented friends, coworkers, and peers whom are part of the LGBTQ community. I am beyond thrilled to be able to lend my support and to celebrate the LGBTQ community’s creativity through the pages of Exuberance. One of the tenets of my upbringing was the importance of integrity and honesty with oneself. And that goes hand-in-hand with respecting and embracing people’s differences. I am elated to be able to honor and commend the unique people who add so much to our personal and professional lives. Live with Exuberance!
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARION CURTIS, STARPIX
Lisa Ben-Isvy Publisher
Celebrating with our partner, DIFFA, at the annual Dining by Design event at Chelsea Piers. With Daniele Busca from Scavolini (top), and (bottom , left to right) Steven Wine, ABYU Lighting; Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, BNO Design; guest from Poltrona Frau; Carl D’Aquino, D’Aquino Monaco; Tomas Georgi, Poltrona Frau.
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PIERRE PAULIN AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH RALPH PUCCI INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK MIAMI LOS ANGELES WWW.RALPHPUCCI.NET
ca
ESSENTIALS
PRODUCED BY NICOLE HADDAD
O b i n r e i nv F F T e et . C nt s H E G lea s r g to r a R I D las ge Fe w s r to t r i a n i t h t r u c c ea h i g l ch es e A o La rle v a do or dd s qui iani .d nC d c tr u c . t ny c .c u re om
SMART SWAG FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO ACQUIRE THE CHICEST GEAR, FROM BIJOUX TO BICYCLES
AVANT-GARDE HOME DECOR, sensuous jewelry, hip eyewear, a bicycle masquerading as an architectural installation: It’s all here and ready to turn up the volume in your digs. Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Walk the walk.
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ESSENTIALS YOU'RE SO VAIN Designed by Doshi Levien, the Chandler Dressing Table includes a side mirror with a rose-colored filter and a jewelry box with a rosewood veneer. ddcnyc.com ECO-TRAVEL The head-swiveling Bambike by Kenneth Cobonpue is fully functional and handmade with bamboo. Available to pre-order now. kennethcobonpue.com SPIN MASTER Restoration Hardware's Vintage Trunk Digital Conversion Turntable features three speeds and built-in, full-range stereo speakers. restorationhardware.com
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SHELL-SHOCKED Thomas Boog's beautiful shell-laden Round Dark mirror is a surefire conversation starter. maisongerard.com KING OF HEARTS Franco Albini's Tre Pezzi armchair is composed of three elements meant for comfort: a deep seat; back support ring; halfmoon headrest. cassina.com THE OLD NEW THING Restoration Hardware combined nostalgic tendencies with technology in their Gramaphone Mini for iPhone. restorationhardware.com FASHION RUN Fendi's Chameleon Floral-Print Canvas low-top sneaker is made in Italy with a leather and suede trim. bergdorfgoodman.com
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ESSENTIALS HOOKED The Catena Uccello Libero (Free Bird chain) from Liv Ballard is shown in 18-karat yellow gold. livballard.com THE MIDAS TOUCH The Sip of Gold porcelain tumblers from Sieger by FĂźrstenberg include interiors in 24-karat gold plating. sieger-germany.com MILITARY PRECISION The General, designed by Matteo Cibic for Scarlet Splendour, is one eye-catching study table with an extendable writing top. rubylux.com CUFF ME Liv Ballard's Bracciale Uomo (Men's bracelet), comes in 18-karat yellow gold, white gold, or sterling silver. livballard.com CHAINS OF LOVE Olivia Monti Arduini's handmade porcelain body jewelry features gold-plated brass closures. oliviamontiarduini.com GAME NIGHT Polished nickel and powder-coated game pieces adorn the walnut and carbon-fiber leather Tic-Tac-Toe Set. ralphlaurenhome.com
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NO. 5 SERIES COURTESY OF KALON STUDIOS.
ESSENTIALS PRETTY IN PINK Kalon Studios' No. 5 Series chaise, shown in a solid rift-cut white oak frame with brass details, also comes as a sofa or sectional. kalonstudios.com LINKED IN The ultra-chic handmade porcelain Nordic Sea Collier by jewelry artist Olivia Monti Arduini features gold-plated brass closures. oliviamontiarduini.com COOL VISION These lightweight, semi-rimless frames offer high-tech performance and a durable seamless hinge. Shown: Inspirational (top) and Authentic. aspireeyewear.com POETIC INSPIRATION Hive, by Atelier Oï for B&B Italia, features a system of complementary modular ottomans and tables. bebitalia.com MAKE A POINT Christian Louboutin's Baila Spike Red Sole Pump is shown in Poudre/Bronze. bergdorfgoodman.com
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FAMILY JEWELS
IN THE NAVY COLOR TRENDS COME AND GO, FROM BLUSH PINK TO FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY, BUT NAVY BLUE SPRINGS ETERNAL BY ROB E RTA NA AS
IF TIME IS REALLY ON YOUR SIDE, then you should make sure you have the most elegant way to measure it. The finest watchmakers in the world know that high design, iconic style, and innovative mechanisms remain important, but color can be the deciding factor in the world of luxury timepieces. What you wear on your wrist tells a story about who you are. Get in the navy, now. EX
IWC has been supplying aviators with reliable timepieces since it invented the antimagnetic watch in the 1930s. Today, the Bib Pilot’s Watch has an annual calendar with day, date, and month, as well as a seconds dial. Crafted in 18-karat rose gold with a rich midnight blue dial and a leather handstitched calfskin strap. $32,400 iwc.com
The Voyager Pink Gold watch from Louis Vuitton is 18-karat pink gold with a polished finish and a deep blue dial featuring a black and white GMT disc with a day/night indicator. The watch houses an automatic movement, is water resistant to 50 meters, and it is finished with a blue alligator strap. $18,700. us.louisvuitton.com
New Yorkers have been setting their watches to the Tiffany & Co. Atlas clock that has adorned the building’s façade since 1853. The famous clock inspired the Atlas collection, and the latest entry is the CT60 Dual Time watch, named for Charles Tiffany. This stainless steel watch with deep blue dial offers dual time indication, in the brand’s timeless style. $6,800. tiffany.com
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Navy blue and silver are a classic combination, elegantly executed by MeisterSinger. The Circularis Automatic features a single hand for both hours and minutes. The movement has an Incabloc anti-shock system and twin mainspring barrels for 120 hours of power reserve. Water resistant to 50 feet, the watch is finished with a stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet. $5,915. meistersinger.com
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FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE LGBTQ AND PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY SINCE 1981
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PETTED
The Legowisko Good Morning bed is made of gray felt and fitted with a soft cushion. The comforting shape satisfies your pet's need to feel safely encased. hellopetsshop.com
MUST LUV BULLDOGS HARDY, AFFECTIONATE, AND ADORABLY WRINKLY, BULLDOGS ARE HAVING A MOMENT AS AMERICA'S FAVORITE BREED BY NICOLE HADDAD
THERE'S A REASON DOGS ARE always called "man's best friend." They are loyal, loving, and their unbridled joy at seeing you (even after mere minutes of separation), is quite the egobooster. One of America’s most beloved breeds, bulldogs also happen to have the sweetest temperament—just ask the families whose children poke and pull at them all day. While there are many types of bulldogs ranging in size and energy level (or laziness, in some cases), American, French, and English bullies
CHIC CHIEN The stainless-steel Dogleg Diner bowls come in varying sizes and are held by silicone bumpers to keep them from rattling. A rubber, non-skid bottom keeps them in place. docapet.com
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reign in popularity. These gentle yet courageous creatures were originally used to bait bulls (hence the name), but today their sporting days are limited to serving as team mascots or strutting in the show ring. Their silly and affectionate nature renders them perfect companions, notwithstanding the orchestra of grunts, snorts, and snores they are known for. And since these charming pals are part of the family, you might as well shop for them as you do yourself—with an eye for design. EX
HAUTE HAUS The MDK9 Dog Haus is made of Brazilian teak, powder-coated steel, and concrete. A Jax & Bones ultra-luxe memory foam pillow fills the interior. rahdesign-la.com
LEVEL BEST The yellow, powder-coated metal Loft Bowls have differing heights to prevent your pet from accidentally tossing his food into the water bowl. hellopetsshop.com
Liv e Yo u r Li fe In S t o ne Natural
Elegant This exquisite space was designed exclusively for ABC Stone by the team at Kroesser + Strat Design.
ELEGANT BROWN
LILAC
MA’s CONCRETE
Luminous
WORLD VIEW
Take a stroll through one of San Miguel de Allende's colorful and eclectic side streets, filled with bars, bistros, and boutiques.
¡VIVA, MEXICO! ART, CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE, AND NIGHTLIFE BLEND IN VIBRANT SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE BY ALISON KOTCH
WRITERS, PAINTERS AND ARTISTS have flocked to San Miguel since the 1930s for inspiration, lured by its 17th and 18th century Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and sun-drenched buildings. But lately, it’s become a hotspot for those looking for a quick weekend getaway, due to its year-round temperate climate, rich culinary offerings, and plethora of shops selling handmade goods to die for (we dare you to resist the urge to snap them up). The city has grown in popularity as a gay-friendly travel destination, thanks to many hotels, restaurants, and clubs that cater to the LGBTQ community. Here are our picks for where to eat, stay, and dance the night away while you’re in town.
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PILLOW TALK: CASA SCHUCK B&B Decorated in classic Spanish colonial style, Casa Schuck offers coveted privacy and personal attention: You can spend a day lounging in the lush poolside garden, enjoying a margarita on the rooftop overlooking the city at sunset, or get friendly in one of ten luxuriously appointed rooms. Two great options: The tangerine-hued El Royal suite features exposed wood ceilings, a carved fireplace, and views of the gorgeous Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel cathedral; El Cielo, one of their newest top-floor suites, is heaven-sent in vibrant yellow and blue. When you’re ready to venture out, just ask: The owners can arrange anything from romantic hot air balloon rides to bicycle tours. Don’t miss the Sunday House & Garden walking tour, which offers a glimpse inside everything from a sumptuous Colonial mansion to a tiny adobe house. casaschuck.com
PILLOW TALK: CASA 1810 HOTEL BOUTIQUE A mere five minute walk from the town center or el Jardin Principal, Casa 1810 Hotel Boutique is a hidden gem located just steps from shops, restaurants, bars, and more. Fourteen beautifully designed rooms—boasting colonial ceilings, fireplaces, rustic tile floors, soaking tubs, luxurious sitting areas—make this haute hotel a perfect getaway. Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast in the inner garden courtyard, have a drink or tapas in the intimately chic downstairs lobby bar, soak in the outdoor relaxing pool, or chill on the rooftop terrace bar (left) and enjoy the beautiful views of the famed Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel—a neo-Gothic cathedral that has become the city's point of reference. casa1810.com
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WORLD VIEW
DINE DIVINE: MOXI Located in the Hotel Matilda, Moxi is helmed by Enrique Olvera, the celebrity chef credited with elevating Mexican cuisine to the next level (he also runs Mexico City-based Pujol, continually listed as one of the world’s top 50 restaurants). The menu rotates seasonally and offers delish dishes like suckling pig with watercress and bean puree, or Cornish hen with chard and roasted cauliflower— along with tasty sides like baked sweet potato with pumpkin seeds. When you’re done savoring your meal, be sure to tour the hotel, which is home to rotating exhibits of photography, paintings, and art installations. moxi.com.mx; hotelmatilda.com
RETAIL THERAPY: ARTES DE MEXICO A vacation isn’t complete without shopping, natch. And San Miguel is a great place to pick up some hot and chic swag for your home. Artes de Mexico is chock-full of brightlycolored, one-of-a-kind must-haves like wooden trunks, handmade baskets, tin lanterns, and gorgeous textiles, made locally or imported from other parts of Mexico. The best part: It’s all reasonably priced, so do yourself a favor and pack an extra bag to carry home your stash. artesdemexicosanmiguel.com
LA VIDA LOCA: GET IN THE SPIRIT Founder and owner Lady Zen discovered the space for Plata while helping a friend move furniture out of an abandoned club: In 2016, it became one of the city’s first LGBTQ-friendly nightclubs—straight, gay, and trans patrons are all welcome. The venue features live music from performers including Lady Zen herself, as well as dancing, drag shows, and DJ sets from artists like Ula LaFaggot (+52 415 144 6101). Get your drink on with one of Mexico's favorite national spirits, mezcal (think tequila with swagger), at La Mezcalería. Sample the owners' own label along with other varieties straight up, or in an expertly crafted cocktail, and snack on the tapas-style menu—just don't miss the cucumber and cilantro margarita (+52 415 121 5354).
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AS ELLEN DEGENERES EXPANDS ED, HER HOME COLLECTION LINE, TO INCLUDE FURNITURE, TABLETOP AND KITCHEN ITEMS, ONE QUESTION EMERGES: IS THERE ANYTHING SHE CAN’T DO?
MOD SQUAD
BY K AITLIN CL ARK
The Westwood rectangular dining table (above) is flanked by Sena upholstered side chairs. b elow, top to bottom : The Cordell Spindle bed is inspired by a classic Windsor chair; A deep-seated armchair, the Valerio Drawer Dresser, and an Autry Schoolhouse stool evoke midcentury style.
DeGeneres lounges against the Montecito sofa (top), part of the Rustic Modern collection, along with the Romero chair in a funky zigzag print and Villere Round Cocktail table to round out the room; The Oletha Tribal Door Chest (above) features adjustable and fixed glass shelves, with a mirrored back. 34 E X U B E R A N C E . C O M
ON A RECENT EPISODE of Ellen, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, are musing about each other’s biggest passions. “Horses,” Ellen says of Portia’s most prized possessions. “Homes,” Portia says of Ellen’s. The couple has lived in nine houses together, each one immaculately redesigned and renovated by DeGeneres before selling and moving on to the next. To the couple’s nearest and dearest, it comes as no surprise that DeGeneres began her own home collection, which was met with astounding success. Her recently expanded home collection now includes furniture, tabletop and kitchen items, all layered with DeGeneres’ signature whimsy and cheer. “ED is an extension of my lifestyle and is inspired by who I am as a person,” says DeGeneres. “ED includes things I see as a necessity and things that are playful, too. It’s design I want to share with everyone.” DeGeneres’ new furniture line is comprised of two collections: Relaxed Midcentury and Rustic Modern, both of which reflect her personal style and love of mixing country with modern aesthetics. The kitchen collection has Ellen’s favorite words—love, joy, happiness—splashed across plates, dishtowels, and oven mitts. As Ellen says: These items will add to the beauty of your home, and they’ll give me a place to crash if I ever decide to come over. EX
PSYCHE
LEATHER BAR
TOM HOUSE, A NEW TOME FROM RIZZOLI, CHRONICLES THE SAFE HIDEAWAY FOR LA’S GAY COMMUNITY IN THE 80S
BY K AITLIN CL ARK
An inside look at the closet in Tom's House, preserved just as it was when he lived there, shows racks of leather jackets and vests, a nod to his leather bar beginnings; The cover of Tom House (above), with a subtle glimpse of frisky love.
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LEATHER-CLAD, BURLY YOUNG MEN, in various stages of undress and often indulging in sexual shenanigans, are standard scenes in the artworks created by Finnish homoerotic artist Touko Laaksonen, known professionally and personally as Tom. His Echo Park home, nestled within the suburbs of Los Angeles, has been preserved, down to the pillows, and is the home base for the Tom of Finland Foundation and the revolving door of characters that make the pilgrimage to the famous—and infamous—compound. “It’s an extraordinary place, equal parts frat pad, utopian collective, art historical archive, sepulcher, community center, and den of iniquity,” writes Mayer Rus, in his foreword to Tom House. Tom’s artwork, which he called “dirty drawings,” is no longer relegated to back rooms in kinky New York City gay bars. At the Whitney Museum’s Biennial of 1991, his drawings held court alongside iconic works by Cindy Sherman and Roy Lichtenstein. Today, Tom House is still home to many of the original residents, while also welcoming new arrivals, often at-risk youth and struggling artists, looking for sanctuary. The Foundation also uses the home as a backdrop for countless fundraisers, art exhibitions, and community meetings. Rus writes: “At Tom House, everyone is welcome, everyone is accepted, and all things considered.” EX
STRUCTURE
INVISIBLE
NO MORE
1
THE NYC LGBT HISTORIC SITES PROJECT IS SHINING A LIGHT ON THE MISSING PIECES OF AMERICAN HISTORY
1 Hamilton Grange, in St. Nicholas Park, was the home where founding father Alexander Hamilton died in 1804. In a book published in 2006 by William E. Benemann, Male-Male Intimacy in Early America: Beyond Romantic Friendship, the author states that Hamilton and his close friend John Laurens were seemingly passionately in love and were perhaps intimate during the Revolutionary War.
BY DE BOR AH L . MARTIN
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2 Although the Stonewall Rebellion is acknowledged as the beginning of the gay rights movement, in the 1950s there were already organizations campaigning for the rights of homosexuals to exist openly without being arrested. The Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis were two such groups, and they operated from offices at 1133 Broadway. These groundbreakers raised issues such as the influence of government, religion, and psychiatry as agents of oppression.
COURTESY NYC LGBT HISTORIC SITES PROJECT
HARRY S. TRUMAN ONCE SAID, “The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know.” When it comes to LGBTQ history in the United States, that lack of knowledge is vast, and Ken Lustbader, Jay Shockley, and Andrew Dolkart have been working to change that for much of their careers. Shockley, a 35-year-veteran of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, co-authored the Stonewall nomination with Dolkart, an architectural historian, in 1999, resulting in the first National Register and National Historic Landmark listings for an LGBTQ site, and eventually led to its National Monument selection in 2016. In 1993, Lustbader received the Outstanding M.S. Historic Preservation Columbia University Thesis Award for his work, “Landscape of Liberation: Preserving Lesbian and Gay History in Greenwich Village.” In 2014, 15 years after getting Stonewall listed on the National Register, they received grant money from the National Park Service, from a fund for projects for underrepresented communities. Of the 92,000 sites on the National Register, only ten were related to LGBTQ history. The project now has over 500 sites, and counting. In addition to reworking the official descriptions of existing sites to include LGBTQ history, the group is producing nominations for new inclusions on the National Historic Register. The project website includes an interactive map highlighting culturally important places such as homes of historic figures, restaurants, bars, and LGBTQ rights organizations. www.nyclgbtsites.org
3 Alice Austen (1866-1952) was one of America’s earliest female photographers, creating over 8,000 images in her lifetime. The Austen family home on Staten Island, purchased in 1844 by Austen’s grandfather John Haggerty, has been on the National Historic Register since 1970 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1993. However, the history of the home never included the fact that Austen lived in the house with her lover, Gertrude Tate. Until now.
STOP, LOOK, & LISTEN
PRODUCED BY DE BOR AH L . MARTIN
DOSSIER
CULT OF PERSONALITY
Photographer Matthew Rolston has photographed everyone, from Cyndi Lauper (above), to Prince (left), from Nicki Minaj to Ralph Lauren, from Isabella Rossellini to George Michael. 'Discovered' by Andy Warhol in 1977, Rolston got his start photographing portraits for the now-iconic Interview, alongside artists like Bruce Weber, Annie Leibovitz, and Steven Meisel. Rolston—who helped define the 1980s magazine scene with his gender-bending, glamorous photos—has released a new book, Hollywood Royale: Out of the School of Los Angeles. Edited by gallerist and curator David Fahey, with essays by luminaries such as Charles Churchward (former creative director of Vogue) and Pat Hackett (Andy Warhol's biographer), the book includes over 100 of Rolston's most iconic portraits recalling the glamour of old Hollywood. A 30-image traveling exhibition is in the works. books.teneues.com
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3. RAINBOW CONNECTION
Edges of the Rainbow by Michel Delsol and Haruku Shinozaki (The New Press), explores the complicated world of Japan's LGBTQ community. Though there is a long LGBTQ tradition in Japanese culture, it is also not acceptable to be different, to be "the nail that sticks out." However, there has been a shift in the last decade, and a new, wider acceptance of queer cultural icons is gaining prominence. Edges of the Rainbow shares the stories of an intersex author, a trans woman pop idol, a gay all-male music group, and a gay Episcopal priest, among others. thenewpress.com
EXTREME COUTURE
1. ARS EROTICA
Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski brings cult-artist Touko Laaksonen, otherwise known as Tom of Finland, to life in this richly photographed and moving story of gay life in post-WWII Europe and America. Laaksonen served in the war, and then became exhuasted trying to hide his homosexuality. When an American publisher sees his beautifully-drawn homoerotic sketches, he invites Touko to move to the West Coast, where he becomes part of the sexual revolution and a cultural icon. Tom of FInland will have general release this fall, and is Finland's entry in the foreign film category for this year's Oscars.
2. FRIENDS INDEED
The result of a collaboration between three friends—interior architect Valerie Pasquiou, artist and designer Sebastien Leon, and entrepreneur Philippe Boccara— Atelier d’Amis is a luxury furniture line inspired by the constant turmoil of cityscapes perennially in progress. Their inaugural collection, Laisse Béton, includes a credenza (above), bookshelves, and tables, crafted of reimagined rebar, concrete-finish ceramic plates, and tubular steel in grid patterns mimicking the graphic patterns of a skyline under construction. atelierdamis.com
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4. Expedition: Fashion from the Extreme is the first large-scale exhibition of fashion influenced by survival wear both on—and off—the planet. Over 70 ensembles and accessories from both the museum's private collection and borrowed from private collectors and museums will be on display in the Special Exhibitions Gallery. Divided into categories like Artic, Deep Sea, and Lunar Landscape, which includes the Cosmocorps collection by Pierre Cardin from 1967 (shown here), the collection tells the story of the environment's influence on culture, and man's influence on the environment. fitnyc.edu 5. CHAMBER OF SECRETS
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce recently commissioned a study on the impact of the LGBTQ community on the US economy and the results are staggering. “America’s LGBT business owners are driving our economy upward,” says Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the NGLCC. “Our community’s $917 billion spending power highlights our market clout and the jobs, tax revenues and profits we create as employers and entrepreneurs. We’re just beginning to scratch the surface of our potential.” nglcc.org
CIAO ITALIA
6. With a menu that includes such deliciousness as Biryani rice balls with spicy tomato sauce, and pizza with charred Brussels sprouts, and pistachio pesto, this is not your mama’s Italian. The brainchild of chef Dale Talde, David Massoni, and John Bush of Three Kings Restaurant Group, Massoni, ensconced in the lobby of the Arlo NoMad, is a welcome addition to the ‘hood. Matt Berman of Workshop APD—the firm behind the chic design—says, “We incorporated elements of Italian street art and motorcycle culture. It has texture and an irreverence to it.” 11 East 31st St., 212.806.7000; massoninyc.com
The Web Collection By Vicente Wolf
Now Exclusively At VW Home furniture • textiles • accessories • antiques • mirrors • lighting • flatware 333 West 39th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10018 212.244.5008 www.vicentewolf.com
IN PERSON
2 1. Martyn Lawrence Bullard in his chateau, framed by his own wallpaper, Majorelle in Baltic 2. The bar at Château Gütsch,
featuring Darya Ikat fabric and wallpaper, a Schumacher collaboration 3. Red O Restaurant, designed by Bullard 4. Tommy Hilfiger’s Miami home 5. Bullard's Hollywood living room 6. Cher's master bedroom 7. Ever-glamorous Cher 8. An Italianate corner in Bullard’s home 9. Tangiers Side Table 10. A collaboration with Haviland China 11 & 12. Fez Field and Mamounia Field tiles for Ann Sacks 13. Verona in Lapis fabric, with Schumacher 14. Topkapi wallpaper in Peacock, with Schumacher
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JOIE DE MARTYN
MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD’S PASSION FOR STYLE AND HIS SENSE OF HUMOR HELP HIM NAVIGATE A LIFE OVERFLOWING WITH POSSIBILITIES. BY MAT T STEWART
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FROM A MODISHLY APPOINTED design atelier in West Hollywood, Martyn Lawrence Bullard works tirelessly to make the world a more beautiful place. Blending modern and classic pieces with fine art, ethnic accents, and a strong dose of pop culture fun, Bullard has created an aesthetic that mirrors his larger-than-life personality. Exuberance: How has your past informed your design? Martyn Lawrence Bullard: I was a magpie from childhood. When I attended theater school, I paid for it by buying and selling at local flea markets. My theater background helps me create an environment that is both bold and a sanctuary. Being eclectic is much more interesting because it creates a vibe all its own. Ex: What are the most rewarding and the most challenging aspects of working with celebrities? MLB: My celebrity clients are not afraid to live out fantasies. Cher wanted her penthouse to look like the palace of the first wife of a Maharajah; Tommy Hilfiger wanted his Miami house to be a showcase for his modern art collection with a '70s disco twist; Kourtney Kardashian wanted to collect midcentury pieces. The challenge is their busy schedule, which often conflicts with my ability to work one-on-one with them. Ex: Do you think being gay has influenced your aesthetic? MLB: Being gay allows a certain amount of freedom because
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people automatically think you have great style. It is a stereotype that I am happy to embrace. Ex: How do you balance your busy life? MLB: Right now, besides private clients, I have eleven product lines, a major project with Front Gate, a new store on Melrose Avenue, and a television show in the works for fall 2017. It is so important for me to take at least one day a week off. Also, after 8 o’clock at night my phone goes off! The other important element is a sense of humor. After all, this is not brain surgery. Ex: Do you have a partner? MLB: I’ve been in a relationship with Michael for 10 years and he is my support and my backbone. It’s not easy to be in a relationship with me. When we first moved in together he was only allowed to bring his toothbrush, and I picked it out. Also, our wheaten terrier, Daisy, is pure love when I come in the door at night. Ex: How do you give back? MLB: I admire people like Elizabeth Taylor and Elton John who have changed lives through their work, so I support both amfAR and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. I am also involved with P.S. ARTS, which provides arts education in underserved schools and communities. The arts allow children to explore their creativity and see different paths to success. We all need to learn to focus on our imaginations. martynlawrencebullard.com EX
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CURTAIN
HAUTE HISTORY
PAUL TAZEWELL CREATES COUTURE FOR SOME OF BROADWAY’S HOTTEST PROPERTIES—HAMILTON, ANYONE? BY K AITLIN CL ARK
TONY AND EMMY AWARD-WINNING costume designer Paul Tazewell understands the power of a dramatic entrance. He burst onto the New York City scene in 1996 with his Broadway debut, designing the costumes for Bring In ‘da Noise, Bring In ‘da Funk, which earned the newcomer his first Tony Award nod. Five Tony nominations have since followed. “When I reflect on my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on some significant, groundbreaking theatre pieces,” he says. “The first being
Bring In ‘da Noise, Bring In ‘da Funk, and then all the way up to Hamilton.” Known for his thoughtful and imaginative approach to costume design, Tazewell’s ability to blend the historic with the contemporary—as he did with Hamilton and The Wiz Live!—is striking. “I’m always trying to figure out what is authentic about the character and how I can pull that out,” says Tazewell. “I need to go through a couple versions of sketches to get to a place where the costumes have more depth and poetry, and reveal more of the character.” He credits his acting background with his capacity to conceptualize the details and subtle nuances of every production he works on. “I carry my past life as a performer with me, those interests around character and character interpretation,” he says. “For me, my collective life experiences are what I bring to the table when I am designing a show.” Combining research with intuition and creativity, Tazewell creates a final product that is immediately accessible to the audience while simultaneously revealing a character’s depth and personality. “I think Hamilton is one of the smartest things I’ve ever designed because it was thoughtful,” he says. “It was very important to me to do justice to the show’s message and everything they had to say emotionally and politically.” It’s a message that he hopes resonates
with audiences now more than ever. “Within the world of New York City, and especially within the world of theatre, we’re in this kind of bubble of creative people, more liberal thinkers,” he says. “Where we are politically feels threatening to the LGBT community, as well as the arts community. It’s very important to hold onto these stories as we retain our validation of America. It makes us mindful of being vocal, within our art and within our daily lives, around what is acceptable and to hold onto those beliefs. We’ve come too far in the gay community to go back. It’s important to be as internally strong as possible and stand up for what we really and truly believe.” EX
Tazewell's sketch and selected fabric colors (above) for Thomas Jefferson's costume. far left : The sketch and color swatches for Alexander Hamilton's sister Peggy's costume l eft : Tazewell fitting actress Jasmine Cephas Jones backstage
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sofa, reinvented.
Flexibility meets luxury and comfort. Reinvent the conventional with Flex, Pentagonal Flex and Flex Outdoor: Infinitely configurable and adaptable to any environment, large or small. Plush, innovative backrests can be rearranged to transform Flex from sofa to chaise to tête-à-tête seating, and even a free standing bed. Designed and made in Italy. Exclusively from Resource Furniture. resourcefurniture.com/flex
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PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE: MEAGHAN DONOHUE.
l ab out lin es are al “M y cu stom A m od el n. ei st er ys Silv t fa nt as y,” sa ol et Se rp en rin g th e vi ll 2013 (le ft) wea Fa s n’ ei st Silver dres s from e or an ge ea r lin e. Th even in g w silk fa ill e, 0% 10 is ht) ja cket (rig bo dy, an d of t lo a s it th e whi ch give inte d with un de r is pr ns . "T hat th e dres s io at tr us ha nd ill bo de sign er 's es ents lim ctio n re pr who le co lle d he ll. It’s an en av he s betwee n s an d bo ne ith de m on stuf f.” pr inte d w an d go ry
D a n ie l
S ilve rs te in sitt a lm os t in g ato 70 0 p o p h is sc fro m a u n d s— ra ps— th at h e fa c to ry co ll e c te in B ro o k ly m o d e ls d n . Tra n To rr a in sg ender e Futu Ste e le ru m a n ( r d ig h t) se p a ra Seana we a r P te s . “T ri nt M a h is im a sh u p wh at th g e re a e b ra n ll y h ig d is a ll h lig hts a b o ut. It ’s a b o ut m a k in g it yo u r own .”
RE-ROLL WITH IT ECO-CHIC DESIGNER DANIEL SILVERSTEIN IS TAKING ON FASHION WASTE, ONE YARD AT A TIME
PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE: KATYA MOORMAN
BY K AITLIN CL ARK
“FASHION IS THE SECOND most polluting industry in the world, second only to oil,” says sustainable fashion designer and FIT grad, Daniel Silverstein. “When I was in school, I started to learn some disturbing stats. I really wanted to be a designer, but once I knew all of this, I didn’t know if I could do it.” Discouraged, Silverstein lugged a 40-gallon bag filled with brandnew, high-quality fabric scraps to the dumpster, and there he had his ‘a-ha’ moment. “I thought, is there a way I could collect leftovers from other designers and start piecing it all together?” Thus, Zero Waste Daniel was born. The unisex line consists of separates ranging from sweatshirts to joggers to tanks, and each item is completely original, as individual scraps, cut from brand-new material, are woven together in a process Silverstein invented called Reroll.
“When I designed this collection I decided to ditch gender,” Silverstein says. “I love when a couple buys the same piece just in different sizes. Wardrobes are so fluid now.” Fashion-forward New Yorkers and celebrities alike, including Kristen Bell, Jennifer Hudson, and Amber Valletta, are fans of the punchy, graphic designs, and the sustainable approach to life. And the message is taking off. Silverstein now has two locations in Brooklyn: a branded "make/shop," where clients can see their clothes being made, and Package Free, a partnership with zero waste blogger Lauren Singer. Says Silverstein, “I love the term ‘zero waste’ because it’s about not wasting anything—material, opportunity, money. When you go into a department store, it’s about the mindset of that store.” The designer has a more personal fashion philosophy. “My take is that the pieces can be anything, but how do you see yourself?” zerowastedaniel.com EX
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ENTREPRENEUR
MITCHELL GOLD AND BOB WILLIAMS WANT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM FURNITURE TO FAITH IN AMERICA BY DE BOR AH L . MARTIN PHOTOG R APHY SANDY SOOHOO
CONSCIENTIOUS DISRUPTORS
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This dance should belong to you. DreamDancer BY KIM
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At the best Addresses in Germany and in London, Paris, Madrid, Vienna, New York and Beijing. www.wempe.com DreamDancer BY KIM transcends the boundaries between dream and reality. Although the ring is cast in one single piece, it forms a mobile structure that constantly reinvents itself. A revolution in ring design. In 18 k rose gold, from $5,265. With brilliant-cut diamonds, from $8,282.
“A DINNER PARTY IS ALWAYS MORE ENJOYABLE WHEN EVERYONE AT THE TABLE IS COMFORTABLE.” –BOB WILLIAMS
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e had a company ethos before ethos was something people talked about,” says Mitchell Gold, co-founder with Bob Williams, of their eponymous company, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. “Today we would be called disruptors. I remember leaving the factory one night and Bob said ‘I want a company where people drive by and say, that’s where I want to work.’” In 1986 North Carolina, that was not an ordinary sentiment. But these are not ordinary men. Gold worked for some well-known names in the furniture industry, and Williams was a graphic designer working for Seventeen magazine. The two began dating and while on vacation they started to bat around ideas for a business they could start together. “We ran the gamut,” says Williams, “from a vintage clothing company to a Christmas tree farm,” but they finally settled on furniture. “I told Bob, we can have 20 to 25 clients, work four days a week, and have a nice life,” says Gold. Williams adds, “It’s not that he lied, it’s that he can’t count.” Now married to other people, the pair is still close, and they continue to break new ground together. Minimal environmental impact has always been a priority, and providing a great work environment—with benefits such as day care and after-school programs, a scholarship fund, and on-site health care—is just as important as bottom line. “Besides being the right thing to do, it CONTINUED
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The midcentury-inspired Manning chest (top, left) in walnut and stainless steel; The Classic Parsons table is surrounded by upholstered Amelie dining chairs (top, right). Says Bob Williams, “These chairs encourage long conversations, before and after dinner.” Outfitted in fresh lime, the Sloane sofa (middle) is inspired by the clean lines of Danish design; Pillows in geometric patterns are the easiest way to update a room. opposite : Bob Williams (left) and Mitchell Gold in their SoHo showroom.
“DESIGN INSPIRATION COMES FROM THINGS THAT HAVE A SENSE OF HISTORY...” –BOB WILLIAMS
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A modern twist on 70s style (top), with the Redford sofa (“extra deep for Netflix marathons!”), the Vivien swivel chair, and the Roxanne rocker with its super-chic Lucite base and lime green fabric. A graphic print by Philadelphia-based artist Wendy Concannon completes the tableau. The Manning coffee table (middle) is architectural and graphic; marble spheres make great bookends, and the Moira lamp adds glam with a combination of art glass and an ombre gold finish. Accessories (opposite) in some of the seasons hottest materials: marble, hammered stainless steel, and pewter.
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A CELEBRATION OF FAITH IN AMERICA’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY AND MITCHELL GOLD’S BIRTHDAY 1. Country singer Chely Wright performed, and MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts emceed the event; 2. Bob Williams greets guests; 3. Eric Giancola and Sean Mackey socialize with Mitchell’s dog, Zola; 4. Louis Pecora, Peter Schlesinger, David Davis, and Charles Kuder;
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“FAITH IN AMERICA’S MESSAGE IS, YOU CAN HAVE FAITH BUT DON’T LET IT ALLOW YOU TO HURT SOMEONE, ESPECIALLY YOUR OWN CHILD.” –MITCHELL GOLD
makes good business sense,” says Williams. Obvious, yes. But common? Not so much. And their ethos extends past their factory walls. Ten years ago they founded Faith in America to combat faith-based bigotry towards LGBTQ people. Living in North Carolina was an eye-opener for the out gay men. “It was very naïve of us. We were in New York where gay people were accepted, but people here didn’t know what to make of us,” says Gold. “The people in town who were really against LGBTQ equality were the religious people.” He started to understand that most of them did not really want to cause harm, but their beliefs were outdated. He adds, “We wanted to develop a more constructive way to discuss the problem.” In 2016 they relaunched the Faith in America website and refocused their efforts. “My goal is that by the end of the year religions will stop teaching that homosexuality is a sin.” Chart-topping country singer, author, and activist, Chely Wright has been a board member for seven years. “Mitchell knows that equality
is held back by faith-based bigotry, and he isn’t afraid to say it.” Wright continues, “My faith is really important to me, and I shouldn’t have to leave it behind because I’m gay. LGBTQ people commit suicide at an alarming rate, primarily because of religious bigotry. It has to stop and if anyone can do it, Mitchell can.” “What’s different about this movement,” Gold muses, “is that we are pointing out that people are choosing between a story that is thousands of years old, and the innate goodness of their son or daughter.” Says Williams, “We are at a tipping point now, with more kids coming out intelligently, and with more information available.” Gold adds, “Our message is, you can have faith but don’t let it allow you to hurt someone, especially your own child.” Faith in America’s work is critical, but Gold also has fun with the message. “After the election I took out a full-page ad in a Washington DC newspaper. It was a letter to Donald Trump about discrimination and equality. And I offered to give him some decorating advice: A little brass goes a long way.” EX
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5. Michele Figliuolo (left) with Christine Laganella; 6. Howard Fine (founding board member of FIA), flanked by Mitchell Gold, husband Tim Gold, and the Amazing Zola
Photo: Katja Hirche
LANTERNS, Fontana Arte, ITALY, 1960’S · GLASS PANEL, E.W. Burger, ITALY, 1964 SIDEBOARD, Jacques Adnet, FRANCE, 1940’S · SOFA, ITALY, 1960’S · COFFEE TABLE, Ricco D, BELGIUM, 1980’S PAIR OF BRASS/WOOD LAMPS, ITALY, 2017 · VASES, Franco Deboni, ITALY, 2013-2016 PYRAMID LAMP, Gabriella Crespi, ITALY, 1970’S · “BEE” BOX, Roberto Rida, ITALY, 2017 · HEAD OF POMONA, ITALY, 17TH CENTURY 30 E 10 TH STREET, NY, NY 10003 · T.212.777.8209 · F.212.777.8302 · INFO@BERNDGOECKLER.COM · BERNDGOECKLER.COM
PHOTOGRAPHY PETER MARGONELLI
PREMIERE ISSUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
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THE ODD COUPLE COCOONING IN STYLE COMES NATURALLY TO DESIGNER DAVID SCOTT, BUT IT TOOK PARTNER ALEX PASHKOWSKY A WHILE TO COME AROUND BY JORG E S . AR ANGO PHOTOG R APHY PETE R MARGONE LLI
A manipulated photograph by Reinhard Gรถrner and a silk tiger print rug from Joseph Carini Carpets give the library a bold, graphic jolt of energy. Pashkowsky likes working here, and the couple often eats at the Phillip Lloyd Powell coffee table (from Wright Auctions).
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David Scott (left) and Pashkowsky at home. In the living room (opposite , top), a Christian Liaigre sofa, furry B&B Italia chair, and a 1950s Robsjohn-Gibbings chair surround a Belgian cocktail table from Van den Akker Antiques. Frank Flynn’s 1970s sculpture (opposite , bottom), from Lost City Arts, stands by a Paul McCobb credenza.
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t’s natural for a designer to swoon over aesthetics. David Scott did when he visited 870 United Nations Plaza in 2008 while apartment hunting. “I saw those enormous Carlo Scarpa chandeliers, the original rosewood paneling, the travertine; the apartments were so architecturally perfect. I had to live here!” He put his own stamp on the one he purchased, of course, giving it a new Boffi kitchen, redoing the bathrooms with Saint Laurent marble and glass tile, and adding a cerused oak door and builtins in the library. But when his partner, business consultant Alex Pashkowsky, who has an acid wit, first came over, he was unimpressed.
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“I used to travel 300 days a year and lived in hotels,” he says. “Having a great personal space was not important to me.” In fact, on that first date in 2010 he initially ignored Scott, preferring to play with the designer’s miniature longhaired dachshunds and barely looking around. Oddly, that attracted Scott to him even more. “Alex is very outdoorsy. He goes to the gym every day and bikes in the street. He didn’t care about all the trappings of a designer.” On rebounds from other relationships, they intended to just date and have fun. “That allowed us to grow together,” observes Scott. A little over a year later, Pashkowsky moved in, CONTINUED
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An Antonio Citterio bookcase for B&B Italia in the foyer (opposite) accommodates objects and art collected by the couple over the years. Across from this are two works by John Spinks above an iron-and-leather stool by JeanMichel Frank discovered at Amy Perlin Antiques (left). A 1987 collage by Esteban Vicente (below).
bringing very few possessions. “There are some things of Alex’s that were allowed,” jokes Scott, to which Pashkowsky retorts, “We could write about the hardships of living with a designer.” Mainly Pashkowsky brought art glass, which he collects, a carved folk art box from his native Ukraine, and other odds and ends. Most are housed in a modular Antonio Citterio bookcase in the entry hall, mixed in with Scott’s possessions and art and objects they purchased together. Over the years, Pashkowsky has come to appreciate their light-filled environment. “I love the library,” he admits, a cozy room where he works and both of them hang out. “We CONTINUED
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Ed Ruscha works above a Calvin Klein Home bed (top), which is flanked by Mecox Gardens tables and 1950s brass lamps. A still life purchased at auction above Paul McCobb chairs and a Jonathan Adler table in the kitchen (bottom). Behind 1970s Saporiti Italia lounge chairs from Lorin Marsh (opposite), Donghia’s Anziano chairs gather around the dining table.
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“I LOVE THE VIEWS. AT NIGHT IT’S LIKE REAR WINDOW.” – ALEX PASHKOWSY
even eat in here, though I hate to admit it,” says Scott. “That’s when you know the honeymoon is over,” quips Pashkowsky. They both also cherish a James Kennedy painting over a chest of drawers in the living room, which is appointed with, says Scott, “Classic things—pieces by Paul McCobb, Milo Baughman, Robsjohn-
Gibbings, a midcentury Belgian etched bronze coffee table, a Regency table from my first apartment.” Their tastes are more aligned as well, though they don’t agree on everything. But it works because, says Scott, “Things are better when you don’t force your ideas on your partner.” EX
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MINIMAL TO THE MAX
BY JILL SIE R ACKI PHOTOG R APHY SIMON U P TON | MARC HE LDE NS
DESIGNER DAVID MANN’S LIFE IS A STUDY IN CONTRASTS, WITH TWO HOMES THAT ARE AN EXERCISE IN LESS IS MORE, AND A PARTNER, FRITZ KARCH, WHOSE MANTRA IS “MORE IS MORE”
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“After black and white, my next favorite color is green,” says architect David Mann who used Le Gemme green glass tile mosaic by Bisazza in his studio’s alcove kitchen. opposite : A large-scale 1940s plaster mantel by Jacques Adnet with caryatids by Hubert Yencesse is reimagined as a console table in Mann’s Hudson, New York home.
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n New York, it’s always a story about how you acquired what you acquire,” says architect David Mann. He’s referring to his Village studio, but the same can be said about many parts of Mann’s life. Like his partner of 25 years, Fritz Karch—the yin to Mann’s austere yang—who has made a career of being a guru of collections. Or Mann’s 4,400–square–foot home on 18 acres in Hudson, New York, that had been a colorful local landmark before the architect took ownership and converted the interior with a softer palette.
The studio came into Mann’s life in the 1980s through a client. “By the time I got in, it was definitely a period piece,” jokes the architect, who gave the space a modern refresh with white walls and ebonized black wood floors. “Thirty-five years living in one room, the most luxurious thing you can do is to have a few things that don’t have any function, that you just simply like,” he says of the space’s redesign. “That is the thing that makes the space feel like your own.” Karch too entered Mann’s orbit by way of someone else—just not how you would think. The architect came solo to a blind date with a man who had invited an entourage that serendipitously included CONTINUED
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Karch. “He really is a hunter and gatherer,” Mann says of his partner, Martha Stewart’s former editorial director of collecting. “What was fascinating to me in the beginning to learn about him was that he really feels like he’s saving these things. He likes to find them in junkyards or thrown away and he likes to rediscover them and maybe use them in ways that were never thought of before. And I find that quest very admirable.” Most of Karch’s gatherings are reserved for his weekend house in Princeton, where he runs Fritz’s American Wonder and an Etsy site called Collected + Co. while Mann’s weekend home in Hudson is reflective of his minimalist style. “I like everything [Fritz] likes, it’s more about editing quantity,” says Mann, who early in their relationship had a dream that the couple would share a home with a glass wall down the center—half, Karch could fill with his trappings; Mann’s side would be “just one chair.” CONTINUED
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The Hudson house features 10 fireplaces. Art is displayed throughout including (this page , from top) an Akari light sculpture by Isamu Noguchi and Green Curve with Radius of Twenty Feet by Ellsworth Kelly in a guest bedroom; A Japanese ceramic vessel by Taichiro Watanabe in the library; A vintage Eastern Anatolia carpet and Josef Albers edition in a second guest room. The vintage steel cabinet (opposite) holds some of Mann’s art collection, such as a print by Ed Ruscha and a Pamela Sunday sculpture (left). David Mann and Fritz Karch cultivated the garden on the terrace of their studio at Devonshire House in Greenwich Village.
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While it does have slightly more than just one chair, Mann’s house upstate “was livable but in kind of dilapidated shape” when the architect bought it. “The approach the previous owners took was lots of color. I loved the actual house but I couldn’t really live with the colors.” Mann painted the whole interior white so he could “better understand” its bones. Years later, it’s still an unending work in progress—an idea Mann is exploring in his first book, MR Architecture + Décor, timed to his firm’s 20th anniversary. “Being a person that creates CONTINUED
"I took the approach in this house of using a lot of white and then bringing in color with some of the objects and art,” says Mann of his Hudson home. “And of course, the people that show up are colorful.” Antique treasures such as a 1920s Hollywood Klieg light (above), vintage Swiss typist stand, and Pierre Chareau–like chairs decorate Mann’s Manhattan studio, while a pair of Tide drawings (left) by Jill Baroff live upstate. The dining room (opposite) boasts a cast concrete table from Flamant, antique Paul McCobb chairs, and a circa-1940s antique chandelier. Tupperware by Richard Caldicott completes the space.
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“I loved the actual house but I couldn’t really live with the colors so the first thing I did was paint the whole inside white,” says Mann. “That was the big ‘making it more livable’ move for me.” Color is added through pieces like a custom indigo cloth bedspread in a guest room; stacks of art, design and gardening books in the library; and black corian countertops in the kitchen. bottom row : The NYC apartment also features a predominantly black-and-white palette including a black Mongolian lamb bedspread by J. Mendel and a blackened steel cabinet by Soraya, Ltd. Vintage green glass ink wells and a painted green work table in the kitchen in Hudson.
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Pops of green dot the back porch in Hudson, including a French 1920s garden table and a pair of Jean-Charles Moreux garden lounge chairs, circa 1935. In the home's master bedroom (middle , left), a 1960’s torchiere, vintage Poul Kjaerholm PK31 black leather lounge chair, plastic molar stool, and vintage hat block used as a door stop create a “photo shoot” moment. In the Manhattan studio (bottom), the original windows, restored during Mann’s renovation of his Manhattan studio, look out over the terrace and University Place. David Mann (below) in front of a Björn Abelin photo in the living room in Hudson.
homes for people I see my own home as a laboratory and an experiment,” says Mann. “The one moment that I always vainly look for is the photo shoot, so once you get to that point, you’ve come to the first stop, but then it evolves on from there. [You see] what was important and what was valuable at that moment and then you go on.” EX
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ost creative types are excessive hoarders of inspirational images, collected from magazines, books, and the things they see every day in their travels. Jarvis Wong (center , circled in red), the designer behind the überchic JARVISSTUDIO, is no exception. With a background in fashion and architecture, Wong’s mood board includes everything from Valentino couture to a public works building in Singapore. “Façades of buildings fascinate me. The geometry translates into everything we do. Even in fashion.” Wong points to an image and says, “Look at this corset. It is structural and constricting but also liberating and sexy at the same time.” To take in his collection of images is to travel the world. A decaying palazzo in Rome, Brutalist facades, classical doors, and space-age creations are layered next to fashion from Balenciaga and Celine, and black-and-white photography. Menswear-inspired fabrics from Holland & Sherry lend a Savile Row-with-a-twist approach to design. “It’s important to have a classical discipline. When you design something abstract you must have a solid foundation, then you can subtract elements to make it modern. You must have a starting point.” Like many designers, Wong speaks of his craft as a painter would describe the act of painting. “You must peel away the layers and discover how we actually see. A palette comes together, and creates the mood, the ambiance, and we build from there. How we see the outside world becomes part of the design.” EX
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THE STYLISH MIND OF JARVIS WONG
AN INTERNATIONAL TASTEMAKER GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT INSPIRE HIM
BY DE BOR AH L . MARTIN PHOTOG R APHY COSTAS PICADAS
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In Valerie Pasquiou’s light-filled Financial District loft, midcentury classics mix with modern pieces. Painted brick and tin ceilings add texture, and highlight the designer’s collection of photography and art. In the corner, a vintage Saarinen table adds a sculptural element. A sinewy Serge Mouille lamp presides over a sofa by the designer. “I don’t consider this space to be designed. It’s just how I live.”
BY DE BOR AH L . MARTIN PHOTOG R APHY COSTAS PICADAS
FRENCH CONNECTION FROM BIARRITZ VIA MALIBU TO NEW YORK, VALERIE PASQUIOU BRINGS HER UNIQUE MULTICULTURAL SENSIBILITY TO EVERYTHING SHE TOUCHES
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“Its so important to me to be surrounded by art,” says Pasquiou. Though the apartment is filled with beautifully designed objects, it feels very natural. On a credenza, a bronze sculpture by Antoine Vidal—a friend of the designer—stands guard; Palman the dog (bottom) enjoys the view. opposite : The apartment is open and spacious, with several little nooks for quiet contemplation or for work. A vintage writing desk and chair provide a small workspace in the living area.
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“WHEN I HAVE A PIECE THAT I HAVE A CRUSH ON, I BRING IT IN. EVERY SINGLE PIECE HAS A STORY BEHIND IT.”
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esigner and interior architect Valerie Pasquiou loves New York. “The minute I set foot here I knew I could start breathing again.” Originally from Biarritz in the French Basque country, Pasquiou studied art and advertising in Bordeaux, and then came to the United States when she was 22 years old. “When I finished my studies I moved to Los Angeles and a mentor encouraged me to do set design. I did that for many years, and then progressed to interior design and interior architecture.” After 16 years on the West Coast, she needed a change. “I’m an ocean person, so I surfed and had a great quality of life. But it became boring and I wanted more cultural diversity.” Pasquiou’s firm, Valerie Pasquiou Interiors & Design in TriBeCa, handles high-profile clients (her first was KD Lang) and projects all over the world. In addition, along with two friends, she started a company called Atelier d’Amis, with two furniture lines being carried at Jean de Merry in the D&D building, as well as in Dallas, Chicago, and LA, with a third line in development now. The designer is also working on projects in Switzerland, Connecticut, and New York, and she notes the differences between working with clients in the United States and Europe. “Over there, people are more relaxed. It’s more spontaneCONTINUED ous. They hire you to redo a space, but
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A graphic painting hangs over the dining table, which is surrounded by an assortment of vintage chairs in different finishes. More art in the bedroom (opposite), where soothing grays provide a calming atmosphere. Largo is quite happy to lounge on the designer’s custom sofa.
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when it comes to the interiors they want to do for themselves, using a mix of inherited pieces and new. If we do an interior the client is very involved.” In her own flat, Pasquiou’s European aesthetic is perfectly at home in a distinctly New York space. Located on one of the city’s oldest streets in the Financial District, it is part romantic Left Bank artist’s garret, part edgy-yet-zen urban loft. The sun pours in through industrial cast-iron windows, and the view over the rooftops of neighboring buildings feels intimate and expansive at the same time. “For me, my own space has to feel personal and very layered. When I find a piece that I have a crush on, I bring it in. Every single piece has a story behind it.” As for the future, this transatlantic designer is here to stay. Last year she became a proud United States citizen, although she acknowledges the uncertainty of the current political atmosphere, especially when it comes to women’s and LGBTQ rights. With a touch of delicious French irony she adds, “My case was delayed for about six months, but I finally got my letter the day after Election Day.” EX
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FAMILY AFFAIR AFTER 17 YEARS AND FOUR STATES, MSNBC’S THOMAS ROBERTS, HUSBAND PATRICK ABNER, AND ROXY THE DOG ARE FINALLY HOME
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married the homecoming king,” says Thomas Roberts, Emmyaward winning host on MSNBC. “It was a little bit of a scandal,” says Patrick Abner, who works in pharmaceutical sales, specializing in HIV drugs. Roberts continues, “He was a junior, he stole it from a senior guy, and he was out. It was 1994 and it was a big deal.” Roberts and Abner met at a party in North Carolina. Roberts was working for the NBC affiliate in Virginia, and wasn’t fully out at the time. “Some friends invited me to a party for a guy who was moving to Philadelphia. It was Patrick.” Roberts wasn’t sure he could go to a gay party, but this was before the internet and Facebook. “My friends said, ‘Who is going to know?’” A month later they ran into each other again in New Orleans, and Roberts invited Abner to Virginia the very next weekend. “I’m not a spontaneous person,” says Abner. “But I went.” After a year of long distance love, the pair was ready to settle in Philadelphia when CNN called. The decision to move was a no-brainer, they spent seven years in Atlanta. After a brief sojourn in LA, they moved to New York when Roberts was offered a job at NBC. In 2008 he took over the desk on NBC Nightly News, becoming the first out anchor on network television. In 2015 he won an Emmy for his coverage of the fight for marriage equality, and as of this summer, Roberts has taken over the weekend evening anchor chair as part of MSNBC's newly expanded programming. The couple's New York digs reflect their busy lifestyle. “We picked this place because we are committed pet parents,” says Roberts. Two terraces are perfect for their lovable pup, Roxy. The CONTINUED
“WE JUST WANT TO BE AS AUTHENTIC AND REAL AS POSSIBLE, AND NOT BE ASHAMED OR AFRAID. I THINK EVERYONE WANTS THAT.” –THOMAS ROBERTS
Roberts (right) and Abner thought the custom marble and reclaimed wood kitchen island would be too big for the apartment. “Once we saw it in here, we realized that large-scale was better,” says Roberts. The pendants are vintage, from France.
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apartment is filled with art and objects they have collected in their travels. The painting over the sofa, by Derek Kaplan, was a gift from Roberts for Abner’s birthday. And in the hallway, a large-scale photograph of a Sable Island pony by Drew Doggett was a gift to Roberts for HIS birthday. Says Roberts, “We were searching for something to fit in that space and I wanted to do something creative.” Abner interrupts, “Actually I was creative first,” but the photograph was too pale for the sunlit living room. It took them awhile to get the scale right in the smaller city space. Roberts recently received the Point Foundation’s Point Impact award for his positive impact on the LGBTQ community. “We are people who have successful professional AND personal lives. That isn’t open to debate by folks who want to take it away.” Abner adds, “We never intended to be role models but I’m glad young people out there can look at us and see that it can work out.” Roberts continues, “I think everybody wants to be as real as possible, and people should be free to have that authenticity. We aren’t perfect; we fight like any normal couple.” Says Abner, “He leaves dishes in the sink. It drives me crazy.” Roberts laughs. “He doesn’t make the bed. I like to return to a nice room. The pillows on the sofa have to be arranged.” EX
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“WE HAD OUR HEART SET ON AN OLDER BUILDING BUT THE MINUTE WE WALKED IN HERE WE LOVED IT.” – PATRICK ABNER
The Hell’s Kitchen apartment is filled with pieces the pair has collected over the years. Abner rescued Roxy (opposite , bottom), A pitbull-rottweiler mix, from the streets of Los Angeles. In the alcove (opposite , top), a charcoal drawing by Oskar Stocker purchased at auction in Vienna hangs over an antique chair that once belonged to Roberts’ great uncle in Maryland. Roberts’ Emmy (above) holds pride of place on a 1950s Spanish painting scaffold that serves as an entertainment center. The brilliant blue painting by Derek Kaplan is a focal point in the sunlit living room.
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A SENSE OF MAGIC
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BY NICOLE HADDAD
ave you ever wondered what it would be like to attend a lavish state dinner with the Obamas in the White House? Or glide up the main staircase of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, surrounded by the scent of gardenias, then continue through a dazzling walkway lined with blooming pear trees that gently sway to the sound of trickling water? These are the types of events that legendary party planner David Monn creates, for the most fabulous people and iconic institutions all over the world. In David Monn: The Art CONTINUED of Celebrating (The Vendome Press), step inside 36 of Monn’s most
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PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID MONN BY DANIELE NALESSO; JAMES EWING
GET A GLIMPSE OF THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF ENTERTAINING GURU DAVID MONN, IN HIS NEW BOOK, THE ART OF CELEBRATING
For an elegant dinner for 250 during the Venice Biennale (opposite), Monn brought in lemon trees from a nursery in Veneto and had twenty-foot-tall cypress trees carried in on a barge to transform two buildings on the island of Giudecca. When de Beers Diamonds was first introduced to the American retail market, Monn was asked to craft an event that paralleled the brand's quality, excellence, and opulence. He created two spaces: In the White salon (this page), a high-gloss, whitelacquered Harlequin vinyl floor gave the appearance of white glass. At night, New York City's lights cast reflections through the floor-to-ceiling windows and sparkled like diamonds.
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and his large roster of discerning clients can testify to that. But it is his intuitive grasp of how to tell the right story for each client that leaves such an enduring mark. With Monn, every element is carefully thought out and orchestrated with purpose; there is never anything superfluous. Perhaps most important, he is a master at engaging the senses. Smell, which Monn refers to as "the CONTINUED penthouse of all senses,"
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID MONN'S HOME BY BJÖRN WALLANDER; WEDDING BY CHRISTIAN OTH
beguiling events in this portfolio of lavish and sensual imagery. While Monn’s boundless curiosity and focus on authenticity weaves a beautiful design tale each time, he also happens to be surprisingly down to earth for a designer who thinks nothing of loading twenty-foot-tall cypress trees onto a barge and shipping them to Venice to bring a concept to fruition. If you can imagine it, he can create it—
In David Monn's never-beforepublished home and refuge, the dining room (far left), is where he balances beautiful formality with relaxation to enjoy gathering with good friends. In a tent overlooking Mecox Bay, Monn (left) helped a client and dear friend recreate the final scene of Love Actually at her wedding. When the ceremony ended, musicians wandered among the guests playing "All You Need is Love" followed by gospel singers who entered, singing. "Natural light is the most important element in a living space," says Monn. "Light brings you to beauty." In the design of his home (below), he kept with his mantra of "Truth is Beauty, Beauty is Truth." The decision to feature his home at the end of the book signifies a new chapter for Monn—his intention to create more permanent spaces for people to enjoy for more than just a night.
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PHOTOGRAPHY, OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CHLOE CRESPI; JASON DEWEY; KORRINE KOTOVOS; DONNA NEWMAN. THIS PAGE: ALLAN ZEPEDA
can trigger emotions and awaken pleasure. While an intoxicating fragrance might be the first to envelop you at one of his events, it is quickly followed by a subtle sensory blanket of sound, sight, taste, and touch. "Guests might experience all five senses within a flash of each other, but each of them is constantly evolving and connecting, yielding a complex sense of enchantment" he says. "And that, is where the magic starts. Your body doesn't have to participate, it just does."
To celebrate Tiffany's annual Blue Book Collection of extraordinary jewels, Monn had models (opposite , top left), don haute couture paper dresses that emphasized the jewels; An evening honoring Chanel in the Metropolitan Museum's Great Hall featured conical-shaped topiaries made with gardenias, Coco Chanel’s beloved flower (opposite , top right); For the annual Library Lions gala, the designer transformed the New York Public Library's Rose room with speakeasystyle red fringed lampshades (opposite , bottom right); Monn created a particularly beautiful and hallowed ceremony for two grooms who made the political decision to wait and get married until it was legal to do so in their home state of New York (opposite , bottom left). Cascading butterflies and an enormous mural of blooming peonies (above) symbolize a young girl's emergence into womanhood at her Quinceñeara.
While Monn consistently creates otherworldly events that elevate the concept of beauty, he grew up in a world that was less than perfect. "It was not beautiful in the aesthetic, and it was not in the emotion," he states. And so, for him, an appreciation of the world at large and celebrating the milestones in our lives is essential. “We move at such speed today—we’re constantly racing. But it is so important to stop and give pause and really take in the meaning of what we have accomplished. We gain something from that. Time on is time honored.” EX
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ost creative types are excessive hoarders of inspirational images; collected from magazines, books, and the things they see every day in their travels. Jarvis Wong (center, circled in red), the designer behind uber-chic JARVISSTUDIO, is no exception. With a background in fashion and architecture, Wong’s mood board includes everything from Valentino couture to a public works building in Singapore. “Facades of buildings fascinate me. The geometry translates into everything we do. Even in fashion.” Wong continues, “Look at this corset. It is structural and constricting but also liberating and sexy at the same time.” To take in his collection of images is to travel the world. A decaying palazzo in Rome, brutalist facades, classical doors, space age creations, layered next to fashion from Balenciaga and Celine, and black-and-white photography. Menswearinspired fabrics from Holland & Sherry lend a Savile Row-with-a-twist approach to design. “It’s important to have a classical discipline. When you design something abstract you must have a solid foundation, then you can subtract elements to make it modern. You must have a starting point.” Like many designers, Wong speaks of his craft as a painter would describe the act of painting. “You must peel away the layers and discover how we actually see. A palette comes together, and creates the mood, the ambiance, and we build from there. How we see the outside world becomes part of the design.”
THE STYLISH MIND OF JARVIS WONG
AN INTERNATIONAL TASTEMAKER GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT INSPIRE HIM
TE X T DE BOR AH L . MARTIN
ICONOGRAPY
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CARRY ON
FOR THE PAST 70 YEARS, LUXURY LUGGAGE PURVEYOR T. ANTHONY HAS BEEN A FAVORED TRAVEL COMPANION FOR THE JET SET.
TOM OF FINLAND
TE X T JILL SIE R ACKI
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Marilyn Monroe preferred her T. Anthony cases in lipstick red. The line was created for her by founder Theodore Anthony, and it is still produced today; Jewelry wardrobe ($1,800), beauty case ($1,200) and hat case ($1,600); Skilled artisans uphold the T. Anthony tradition of craftsmanship.
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perci aut vel ma nonectur?unt oreris THOSE STYLESETTERS, including an $1,800 leather travel bar. veniand iteces Engraving estiume dolorwho argue that debitat status is conveyed isn’t just available—it’s practierum lique pro tem volorunt volut laces nistem fugitatem remde voluptam through the logoposae on a car, watch or cally rigueur—while in-house, expert handbag. However, luggage eaquia cuptas doluptat ulparitatur, sierumluxury lque pro tem v repairs take T. Anthony’s elite service to purveyor T. Anthony has decidedly another level. gone the opposite route, cultivating a devout following among power playAnd while new colors are introduced ers and glitterati by being elegantly logo-less. “It’s discreet luxury,” says T. from time to time, black, tan, blue, and EXUBER ANCE .COM XX Anthony President Michael Root, the third generation to helm the family red—which was first created for Monowned and operated brand. “Our aesthetic is timeless elegance. Our prodroe—are longstanding favorites. “Our ucts are not overly ornate. The bold, bright colors and the sharp contrast on customers prefer that we not change the our luggage give a strong orderly sensibility to the design.” colors because they can’t add to their Since 1946, T. Anthony’s curated collection of luggage, duffels, garluggage collection once we do,” says ment bags and leather goods have been seen alongside notable travelers Root. “With this sector in the luggage such as Nancy and Ronald Reagan, Tom Ford, Marilyn Monroe, Anna Wincategory, it’s not a fashion business. It’s a tour, Lady Gaga, and Elton John. In recent years, the company launched a luxury business.” 445 Park Avenue, New garment bag-duffle hybrid while also reissuing pieces from their archives, York, 212-750-9797; tanthony.com EX posae nistem fugitatem rem voluptam
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In March, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS hosted its signature event DINING BY DESIGN (DBD) New York in support of its mission to raise funds for HIV/AIDS prevention, education and direct care. Recognized as one of the premier fundraising events in the design industry, it gathered internationally celebrated designers and local talent to create extraordinary dining environments.
DIAMOND SPONSORS
Crate & Barrel Gensler + KNOLL Sunbrella Twyla Presents Edward Granger PLATINUM SPONSORS
The 20th Annual DINING BY DESIGN combined a worthy cause and exceptional design into a 5-day event that hosted 2,000 people at the two fundraisers and 45,000 throughout the week. This year’s event raised nearly $800,000 toward DIFFA’s grant making efforts. Since inception in 1997, DBD has raised more than $13 million toward DIFFA’s work to fight HIV/AIDS. Learn more at www.diffa.org
AJ Madison & Viking Range + ODA New York Cappellini designed by Giulio Cappellini and Antonio Facco Luxe Interiors + Design/ Cambria designed by Dekar Design M Moser Associates
Perkins + Will, Steelcase, Coalesse, Designtex, Empire Office & Arktura Poltrona Frau designed by Benjamin Noriega Ortiz with LASVIT Lighting and Orley Shabahang Carpets Ralph Lauren Home with support from lighting partner Visual Comfort & Co. Roche Bobois + Gensler
GOLD SPONSORS
Arteriors Blue Ocean Design & Charleston Limewash Design Within Reach designed by Language Dept. Florim designed by Messana O’Rorke Herman Miller
Materials Inc + Steelite + Tzelan Rockwell Group with Ovando Tai Ping The Mine by ATGSTORES. COM designed by Eddie Ross Todd Bracher and Humanscale Design Studio
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1. ED Ellen Degeneres Crafted by Thomasville
2. Sunbrella 3. Gensler + Knoll 4. M Moser Associates 5. The Mine by ATGSTORES.COM designed by Eddie Ross
6. Florim by Messana O'Rorke
7. Ralph Lauren Home with support from lighting partner Visual Comfort & Co.
8. Cappellini by Giulio Cappellini & Antonio Facco
9. Herman Miller 10. Poltrona Frau by Benjamin Noriega Ortiz with LASVIT Lighting & Orley Shabahang Carpets
11. Blue Ocean Design & Charleston Limewash
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12. Rockwell Group with Ovando
13. The New York Times designed by LIAIGRE with Douglas Little
14. Benjamin Moore CENTURY
15. Twyla presents Edward Granger
16. Crate and Barrel
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18. AJ Madison & Viking Range + ODA New York
19. Design WIthin Reach designed by Language Dept.
20. Interior Design 21. Perkins + Will, Steelcase, Coalesse, Designtex, Empire Office, Arktura
22. Tai Ping
23. New York Design Center by Brad Ford and FAIR
24. LUXE Interiors + Design/ Cambria designed by Dekar Design
25. Todd Bracher and Humanscale Design Studio
26. Materials + Steelite + Tzelan
27. Roche Bobois + Gensler
17. Arteriors Photo cred: Alan Barry Photography and Marion Curtis/StarPix
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TOUCHSTONE
Gay Liberation, sculpted by George Segal, was unveiled in 1992 at the northern boundary of Christopher Park, directly across the street from Stonewall Inn. The four figures were meant to demonstrate the public comfort and freedom to which the LGBTQ community aspired at the time.
PRIDE v PREJUDICE
IN THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR HUMAN CIVIL RIGHTS, STONEWALL NATIONAL MONUMENT EXPANDS AMERICAN HISTORY BY DE BOR AH L . MARTIN
1969 WAS ONE OF THOSE YEARS. The summer of love, the anti-war movement, the sexual revolution—a seismic cultural shift was in the wind. Haight-Ashbury was hippie nirvana, and a little festival called Woodstock was on the horizon. In the West Village, however, there was a storm brewing. New York City’s gay population, tired of being harassed by the police, took a stand on Christopher Street in front of a members-only bar called Stonewall Inn. The riots, which morphed into protests, represented the first volley in the struggle for LG-
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BTQ civil rights. The protestors organized into civil rights groups, and the first pride celebrations occurred two years later, around the country. In 1994, the Organization of Lesbian and Gay Architects + Designers (OLGAD), made the earliest attempts to get Stonewall and LGBTQ history recognized on the National Register. The prevailing attitude was that a riot should not be commemorated, and the project languished until the second term of President Barack Obama. On June 24, 2016, President Obama declared Christopher Park and 7.7
acres of streets and sidewalks (which includes the boundaries of the current Stonewall Inn and the adjacent building which was part of the original bar), a national monument. According to Allan Dailey of the National Park Service, “There was a recognition that the Parks Service needed to reflect the changing American family. The LGBTQ struggle is a struggle for human civil rights and it must be represented on the same platform as Selma and Seneca Falls. Harvey Milk told us we needed to be out. This park is OUT.” EX