Nearly 200 designers, industry professionals and friends of the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) turned out for the annual spring gala last Monday as the school honored alumna Mariette Himes Gomez with the Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award and Charles Jencks with the Thomas N. Armstrong III Award in Landscape Design.
Charles Jencks, Mariette Himes Gomez and David Sprouls
Dinner guests included Bunty Armstrong, Michael Bagley, Orli Ben-Dor, Doris Leslie Blau, Michael Boodro, Nancy Boszhardt, Mario Buatta, David Easton, Carolyn Englefield, Alexander Gorlin, Eileen Guggenheim, Christopher Hyland, Annie Kelly, Tim Street-Porter, David Kleinberg, Ellen Kravet, Ed Ku, Brian McCarthy, Sandra Nunnerley, Stephanie Odegard, Shax Riegler, John Rosselli, Bunny Williams, Robert Ruffino, David Scott, Clinton Smith, Matthew Patrick Smyth and Ashley Whittaker.
Jill Cohen and Michael Boodro
Bunny Williams, John Rosselli and Nancy Boszhardt
David Scott and Doris Leslie Blau
After a lively cocktail hour, Patricia Sovern, chairman of the NYSID Board of Trustees, kicked off the event acknowledging the vibrant audience of “distinguished designers, creators of interior design products, connoisseurs of design and the fine and decorative arts, artists, writers, as well as advocates of design education."
Michael Sovern, Jill Spalding, David Sprouls, Patricia Sovern
NYSID president David Sprouls thanked the gala’s honorary committee chairman Jill Spalding and gala co-chairs Alexa Hampton and Newell Turner.
Jill Spalding, Newell Turner and Alexa Hampton
“You have all made this a glorious evening for our honorees and you are making possible NYSID scholarships for aspiring designers. You are changing lives, unleashing talent and creativity, and helping many men and women realize their dream of becoming interior designers,” he said.
As the evening continued, Gomez was presented with her award by Hampton, who cited Gomez’s “…extraordinary accomplishments as a designer of interiors, furniture and furnishings.”
“Mariette, you have given sublime spaces to your friends and clients, you have advanced our understanding of what interior design is and contributes to our lives, and you are an inspiration to your peers and the rising generation of designers,” said Hampton.
Jencks’ award was presented by Armory Armstrong, daughter of the late Thomas N. Armstrong, who spoke on behalf of her family. “Charles Jencks takes on the issues in the contemporary dialogue of art, culture and society, including land reclamation and design to improve health and provide hope,” she said. “We also recognize Charles Jencks as a powerful advocate for the power of design in addressing these issues.”
Both honorees were presented with crystal vases, which were donated by Lalique.
