Brooklyn Museum gala a hometown affair

By Meredith Deliso

For its next big bash, the Brooklyn Museum is looking for inspiration in its own backyard.

The Prospect Heights cultural institution hosts its annual gala on April 27 — and Brooklyn artists will be the honorees.

“The theme is squarely focused on our enormous interest in Brooklyn artists and what’s happening in Brooklyn today,” said museum Director Arnold Lehman. “We really want to feel that the community and the museum are very much as one.”

That means honoring borough-based artists Fred Tomaselli, Lorna Simpson and Fred Wilson, all of whom have had exhibitions at the museum in the past year. The dinner will also feature table settings designed by 15 local artists.

“My table design explores an urban/spring theme and utilizes the beauty found in cast off objects such as copper pennies, tempered automobile glass, and barbed wire,” said Williamsburg artist Ryan Humphrey, who will also include a silk-screened cassette with each guest’s name on it as a take-away gift.

And for the requisite bit of Manhattan glamour, Sarah Jessica Parker (pictured) will host the pre-gala cocktail party. SJP, of course, is famous in these parts for producing the controversial art reality show, “Work of Art,” which gave the winner the ultimate perk: an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. 

The museum gala varies wildly from year to year. At least year’s, food artist Jennifer Rubel created edible pieces that paid homage to such artists as Jackson Pollock and Marcel Duchamp.

Brooklyn Artists Ball at the Brooklyn Museum [200 Eastern Pkwy. at Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights, (718) 638-5000], April 27 at 6 pm. Tickets $500 to $1,500, with tables ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. For info, visit www.brooklynmuseum.org.