Thakoon, Timo Weiland, and Pamella Roland Celebrate American Art at The Whitney Museum Studio Party

Postponed due to Hurricane Sandy, the Whitney Museum of American Art finally held its annual Gala and Studio Party last night, with the fashion and art crowd in attendance. The dinner and after-party, presented by fashion designer Pamella Roland and Microsoft, honored photography curator and museum benefactor Sondra Gilman Gonzalez-Falla, and it also raised money for the New York Foundation for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund. Fashion designer Thakoon Panichgul walked the Studio Party red carpet, pausing to speak with ELLE.com about his thoughts on the museum and the work that it does in cultivating new and emerging artists. "There’s a lot of talent that needs support. I think sometimes art is about

money and it's not about that at The Whitney," he told us of his decision to stop by. "And I’m in a festive mood."


Provocative visual artist Nate Lowman tried his hand at a new creative endeavor on the Studio Party’s basement dance floor: DJing on vinyl records. His high-octane music choices had guests on their feet in no time, dancing the night away underneath glittering strings of silver beads cascading from the ceiling.


Partygoers, including fashion designer Timo Weiland, perused the Instagram photo project just off the dance floor, where attendees could purchase photos taken and submitted anonymously by renowned artists and edited with the social media software. An avid social media user himself, Weiland quickly turned the conversation to what he considers to be the best photo he’s ever posted online. "[It was of] a leather S&M-like costume for Halloween," he enthused. Such an image seems an almost stark contrast to his upcoming collection, which Weiland revealed to be partially inspired by the ocean. "There’s an African inspiration, as well. Think above ground meets under water," he added.


Although Pamella Roland made a quick exit shortly following the dinner gala, no one at the Studio Party could stop buzzing about the must-attend event she’d put on—even hours after her departure. "She’s a fun lady," Pamella Roland design director David Rodriguez told ELLE.com. "Pamella loves a party."