MAD Presents its 2012 Young Patrons' Gala, the L.E.D. Ball, Tonight, 5/17

The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) presents its fourth Young Patrons' Gala, the L.E.D.BALL at MAD's home on 2 Columbus Circle, tonight, May 17, 2012.

With a Host Committee that reads like a who's who of the downtown art, design and social scenes, MAD welcomes a new generation of artists, designers and patrons to support its acclaimed Education and Exhibition Programs with an evening of fun, art, design and dancing. Co-chaired by Sean Avery, Nate Berkus and Dror Benshetrit, The L.E.D.BALL will feature a silent auction of works by contributing artists and designers, including Jonas Damon, Teddy Lo, Samuel Wilkinson, and Moritz Waldemeyer. Also on the block will be Jallum Pontil, Yann Kersale's first collaboration with Baccarat, a set of four L.E.D. Crystal lighting pieces, conceived to illuminate both home and garden. (The auction is being featured on Paddle8.com.)

Partygoers will also be able to view Baccarat's Solstice Comete chandelier on the 2nd floor, which will feature a border of sand and black lights created by artist Joe Mangrum, Roll & Hill's L.E.D. wall installation Odds and Ends in the 7th Floor Lounge, as well as the exhibitions Swept Away: Dust, Ashes and Dirt in Contemporary Art, Glasstress New York: New Art from the Venice Biennales, and Beauty in All Things: Japanese Art and Design.

This spectacular of art and light will actually begin before guests enter the museum. Projected on MAD's façade will be a video art project conceived by students at the Gallatin School of NYU enrolled in the course "Technology, Art, and Public Space." A celebration of journey as destination, it is being underwritten by KLM, one of MAD's corporate partners.

The mission of the Young Patrons Gala is twofold: First, to bring a new generation of artists and designers into the fold, opening MAD to an audience that may not yet be familiar with the institution; second, and most importantly, to support the hands-on arts education MAD provides in its own classrooms to NYC public school students. These art classes are the only studio-art education many public school students will receive during their formative years, due to cutbacks in city funding.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and includes a private dinner for $1,000 Platinum ticket buyers in MAD's restaurant, Robert, while the rest of the Museum opens for VIP $250 Glow ticket holders. At 8:30 p.m. the doors open for L.E.D. ticket holders as the dancing begins and the L.E.D.BALL shines until midnight. The L.E.D. BALL features sets by The Rapture DJs, AndrewAndrew, and Chelsea Leyland. The décor on the 2nd and 9th floors of the Museum, in addition to the exterior, is made possible with OXO's support.

Tickets ranging from $125 to $1000 are available for purchase here: http://madmuseum.org/events/led-ball. All proceeds from the art auction and tickets benefit the Museum's education programs. To preview auction pieces, and for the latest updates, see http://ledball.tumblr.com or keep your eye posted for our Twitter hashtag #LEDBALL.

Host Committee members include: Stacey Bendet, Chris Benz, Andrew Bevan, Derek Blasberg, Fanny Bourdette-Donon, MAndy Brooks, Brad Cloepfil, Michele and Martin Cohen, Martin Cohn, Mandy Coon, Peter Davis, Alan and Marcia Docter, Ryan Frank, Kris Fuchs, Eboni S. Gates, Octavia Giovannini-Torelli, Stephanie Goto, Anne Grauso, Edwin B. Hathaway, Brooke Holloway, Holly Hotchner and Franklin Silverstone, Andy Kahn, Matt Kays, Brian Kenny, Susan Kirschbaum, Peter Knell, Greg Krelenstein, Laura and Lewis Kruger, Helen Toomer Labzda and Chris Labzda, Stephanie LaCava, Nanette L. Laitman, Amy Lau, Leigh Lezark, Jeremy Lipkin, Jenne Lombardo, Slava Mogutin, Geordon Nicol, Lyz Olko, Katharina Plath, Ernesto Qualizza and Jenna Crosby, Julie Ragolia and Duncan McVerry, Mazdack Rassi, James Rosenthal, Brian R. Saltzman, M.D., Matthew Schneier, Barbara Karp Shuster, Elizabeth Sulcer, Luigi Tadini, Barbara Tober, Nancy Wu and Robert Henry, and more.

Participating artists and design companies include: Marziani Arredi, Baccarat, Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons, Francesca Castagnacci, Jonas Damon for Areaware, Flos, Foster & Malone, Zach Gold, Robert Henry Architects + Interiors, Brooke Holloway, Humanscale, island6, Jen Kao, Bliss Lau, Teddy Lo, Julian Lwin, Joe Mangrum, MRI Lightpainting, Andrew O'Malley, David Nosanchuk, Kenon Perry, Plumen by Hulger, Roll & Hill, Antonio Pio Saracino, Jacob Sutton, Hiroki Takada, Moritz Waldemeyer, Floris Wubben and more.

The Steering Committee includes: Cecily Carson, Thea Giovannini-Torelli, D. AshLee Harrison, Ron Labaco, Thomas Onorato and Max Wixom.

The Museum of Arts and Design explores the blur zone between art, design, and craft today. The Museum focuses on contemporary creativity and the ways in which artists and designers from around the world transform materials through processes ranging from the artisanal to digital. Its exhibition program explores and illuminates issues and ideas, highlights creativity and craftsmanship, and celebrates the limitless potential of materials and techniques when used by gifted and innovative artists. MAD's Permanent Collection is global in scope and focuses on art, craft, and design from 1950 to the present day. At the center of the Museum's mission is education. The Museum's dynamic new facility features classrooms and studios for master classes, seminars, and workshops for students, families, and adults. Three open artist studios engage visitors in the creative processes of artists at work and enhance the exhibition programs.