To kick off the annual week of collecting, gallery hopping and fundraising timed to the Aspen Art Museum’s ArtCrush benefit gala, an accomplished group of art world figures, aficionados and collectors gathered at Sterling McDavid’s residence in Aspen, Colorado for a spirited mountain high lunch on August 1. The intimate soireé, put on in partnership with the Aspen Art Museum, Cultured founder and editor-in-chief Sarah Harrelson and Kavi Gupta Gallery, featured a tour of the incredible McDavid art collection followed by a seated reception for the talented group.
Upon arrival, guests were escorted into McDavid’s stunning, mountain-side estate to explore her extensive art collection, which includes works by Sabine Marcelis, KAWS and a series of Campbell’s soup cans by Andy Warhol. Attendees including Ashlee Harrison, Ashley Wein, Brynne McNulty, Dana Farouki, Jaclyn Carr, Alex Israel, Jamie Tisch, Jeanne Greenberg, Karen Lord, Sarah Arison, Silvia Cubina, Chanelle Lacy and Sophia Cohen marveled at the gallery-like home, whose picture windows synthesize the natural beauty of the surroundings with the contemporary works. Inspired, they then retreated to the backyard where a floral-scaped table was set for the seated luncheon, a four-course meal paired with wines by female-owned RGNY. Over hand-crafted salads made from farm fresh greens or sliced heirloom tomatoes, peaches, basil, olive oil and burrata; vegetarian tabbouleh with fresh corn, purple onion, squash and roasted carrot; vegetarian lasagna; truffle macaroni and cheese, and a grilled summer vegetable medley with basil pesto, wild rice with locally foraged mushrooms, they swapped stories of art and travel and mused on what they were excited for in the ArtCrush week ahead. A death by chocolate cake and homemade ice cream dessert rounded out the menu.
As the elegant afternoon affair concluded, attendees toasted to the successes of their dinner partners, their hosts and to celebrate the start of long-awaited Aspen ArtWeek. Each went about the rest of their day with a gift to remember: a Cultured tote and copy of the current summer issue, which features some of the exciting artists whose work is on view now at the Aspen Art Museum and in galleries across the city.
