Al Hirschfeld, whose legendary quill pen captured virtually every well-known performing artist of the 20th century, will be celebrated by Henri Bendel. Guests are invited to the opening of this "Hirschfeld Spectacular," where all will enjoy a first-of-its-kind installation. Henri Bendel has worked hand-in-hand with Hirschfeld's exclusive gallery, the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York, to create a truly unique presentation of the late illustrator's work.
It all takes place at Henri Bendel, 712 Fifth Avenue at 56th Street during the holiday window reveal today, November 14th at 6:00PM. Evening Festivities and shopping will continue until 8:00 PM.
Following the window reveal, guests will be invited to shop for a cause; 10% of the proceeds from sales that evening will benefit The Actors Fund's
Al Hirschfeld Free Clinic and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Visitors will see the main window of the Henri Bendel flagship store transformed into the resplendent formal dining room of a classic New York townhouse in the midst of a holiday party. The celebrated party guests-all
Al Hirschfeld's line drawings translated into three dimensions-include:
Carol Channing,
Whoopi Goldberg,
Sarah Jessica Parker,
Liza Minnelli,
Marilyn Monroe,
Audrey Hepburn,
Bernadette Peters, and
Woody Allen.
Carol Channing is as Hirschfeld drew her in "Hello Dolly!";
Sarah Jessica Parker appears as she was drawn in "Sex And The City";
Audrey Hepburn steps out of Hirschfeld's "Breakfast At Tiffany's" right into Bendel's window. At the right is the artist himself,
Al Hirschfeld, brought into three dimensions from his most famous self-portrait. We see Hirschfeld working away at his drawing table, seated in his famed barber's chair. At the center of the window hangs a large gold-plated chandelier sparkling with Swarovski Elements. Bendel's is one party you won't want to miss this season!
The centerpiece of the atrium is Henri Bendel's iconic two-story tree, covered in malachite. Atop the tree is
Al Hirschfeld's
Charlie Chaplin, also sculpted in three dimensions, looking down at all who enter the store. Fifteen Swarovski chandeliers adorn the tree's many branches.
This fantasyland setting, inspired by the work of the late designer
Tony Duquette, is further enhanced through trompe-l'oeil furniture and décor throughout the atrium.
In addition to the sculptures created from Hirschfeld drawings,
Al Hirschfeld's original line art will be featured throughout Henri Bendel, including a two-story-high presentation of illustrations, all from the collection of the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York. Through Hirschfeld originals and facsimiles, visitors to Henri Bendel will be treated to a cornucopia of hundreds of characters from all the performing arts, covering almost the entire 20th Century.
Broadway actors abound:
Mary Martin,
Yul Brynner,
AlfrEd Drake-Angela, Chita, and
Tommy Tune-and the casts of "Phantom," "The Producers," "Hairspray," and "Les Mis." The many stars of the Silver Screen include Laurel & Hardy,
Judy Garland in "The Wizard Of Oz," and Gable and Leigh in "Gone With The Wind." There's
Katharine Hepburn, Liz Taylor,
Cary Grant, and
Gene Kelly;
Fred Astaire twirls
Ginger Rogers, and
Julie Andrews flies over London as Mary Poppins. Television: from "I Love Lucy" to I love "The Golden Girls"-and Groucho, Gleason & Carney, Stiller & Meara. Once again Shatner and Nimoy are taking off in "Star Trek," and The Beatles are changing the world on
Ed Sullivan. Music? Music:
Duke Ellington,
Billie Holiday, Ella, Lena, Elvis, and Frank, Mick, and Keith, Madonna,
Jerry Garcia,
Wynton Marsalis. Bendel even has Beethoven-and, of course, Hirschfeld's good friend Houdini, and Sherlock Holmes! The Henri Bendel Hirschfeld Spectacular has hundreds more. And every picture is worth a thousand words.
The Hirschfeld Spectacular will be on display throughout the Henri Bendel flagship store until January 2, 2014.
More than 75 years of
Al Hirschfeld's drawings, prints, and archival materials are on permanent exhibition and available to collect at the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York.
The displays in the window and throughout the store were hand sculpted by
Tom Carroll Scenery, with the art direction and assistance of Henri Bendel Assistant VP of Visual, Gilberto Santana.
The Hirschfeld Spectacular poster will be available at the Henri Bendel flagship store and at the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd. The poster will also be available through
www.henribendel.com and
www.AlHirschfeld.com. The poster is a fantasia of
Al Hirschfeld's characters, with almost 100 performing artists featured! It measures 37 inches high by 28 inches wide. The Hirschfeld Spectacular Poster Design is © 2013 Margo Feiden,
www.AlHirschfeld.com. The images are all ©
Al Hirschfeld, and are provided by the artist's exclusive representative, the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York.
Henri Bendel (
www.henribendel.com), Manhattan's famed Fifth Avenue boutique, has long influenced the shape of American fashion. With an unmistakable sense of style and a keen eye for the new and the next in women's accessories, Bendel's specializes in handbags, jewelry, and gifts. Known for its instantly recognizable brown & white striped shopping bags and hatboxes, Henri Bendel continues to translate the spirit and energy of New York City throughout its 30 stores nationwide. Twitter: @HenriBendel
Al Hirschfeld (1903-2003) is considered by many to be the greatest line artist of the modern era. For more than 75 years Hirschfeld drew luminaries from Broadway and Hollywood for "The New York Times" and almost every other notable publication. Full of wit and verve, in distinctively bold and often intricate lines, Hirschfeld captured the greats with his pen. Actors, singers, dancers, producers, directors, and playwrights, classical musicians and rock bands-from the 1920's on, being "Hirschfelded" signified that you had arrived. Famously, Hirschfeld drew while seated in a barber's chair in his New York City studio. Hirschfeld continued to work daily until his death in 2003.
After the birth of his daughter, Nina, Hirschfeld began hiding her name in his drawings, often tucking it into an actor's hair, clothing, and shoes. In the 1950's Hirschfeld began adding a number to the right of his signature to indicate how many NINAs his drawing contained. Finding the NINAs became a national Sunday morning pastime.
Al Hirschfeld was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President
George W. Bush. The Library of Congress designated Hirschfeld a "Living Legend." And in February 2003, the United States Congress by unanimous voice vote passed a resolution declaring
Al Hirschfeld a
National Treasure.
Margo Feiden began her career at age 16 when she became Broadway's youngest producer, director, and playwright, documented by the Guinness Book of World Records (1981). Also as a writer, she researched and authored the scholarly award-winning Margo Feiden's The Calorie Factor (Simon & Schuster, 1989); Feiden won the prestigious Library Journal Award, which cited her book as the best written on the subject. Since 1969, she has presided over the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York, where she has been the exclusive, worldwide representative of
Al Hirschfeld, about whom she has written extensively. Feiden was the first person ever to hold an art auction on the World Wide Web (New York Times, Dec. 14, 1995). Her gallery is also known for its work in the restoration of art and documents on paper. Feiden has appeared in documentary films and on many television and radio programs. In addition, she has been an avid aviatrix, camel racer, Mensa member, and Friar. Both she and her Gallery live in glorious Greenwich Village.
The Actors Fund's
Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic provides free health care to uninsured and underinsured entertainment industry professionals between the ages of 18 and 64. Located in New York City at The
Dorothy Ross Friedman Residences (formerly The Aurora), the Hirschfeld Clinic offers urgent care, primary care, and specialty care, with low cost referrals to a wide range of specialty clinics and practitioners. Dr. James Spears, the Clinic's Medical Director, oversees a team of general practitioners and specialists, all of whom volunteer their time to provide free medical care to the entertainment community.
Image ©
Al Hirschfeld. Reproduced by arrangement with
Al Hirschfelds Exclusive Representative, The Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd. New York,
AlHirschfeld.com.
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