A subway saxophonist, snowstorms, and surprise Scorcese tributes––just another Friday night at the Performance Space New York gala.
Last week, the nonprofit exhibition space and performance venue unleashed creative chaos on the East Village, transforming its annual gala into a kaleidoscopic salute to three legendary New Yorkers: Yoko Ono, Fran Lebowitz, and Adrienne Edwards. Under the direction of design maven Willie Norris, the evening served up mischievous mimes, a surprise appearance by Bernie Wagenblast, the iconic voice of the MTA ("stand clear of the closing doors, please!"), and a star-studded crowd.
Early arrivals were greeted in the courtyard by Jazzajilo, a beloved staple of the Times Square subway station, who played the saxophone witih a chorus of 50 robotic animals. Mimes drifted through the throng, coaxing guests into the Keith Haring Theatre, where digital ticker messages scrolled overhead and a sprawling tablescape doubled as a runway for pure spectacle.
The filmmaker Julio Torres and artist Martine Gutierrez took hosting duties to new heights, setting the stage for surprise tributes to the evening’s honorees. Meredith Monk conjured a miniature snowstorm––literally––as Yoko Ono was serenaded by her very own classic “Listen, the Snow Is Falling." Director Martin Scorsese regaled the audience with stories of his old pal Fran Lebowitz. Later, the artist and choreographer Ralph Lemon showered Adrienne Edwards with accolades for her groundbreaking work at the Whitney Museum of American Art, where she serves as senior curator and associate director of programs.
As guests finished a multi-course meal by New York culinary mainstay Indochine, the evening reached its climax. Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry and musician Kelsey Lu joined forces to restage Harry's famous 1982 appearance on The Muppet Show, when she sang The Rainbow Connection with Kermit the Frog. (Lu donned surreal prosthetics for her supporting role as the legendary frog.)
As midnight approached, attendees including artists Julie Mehretu and Nan Goldin, actor Hari Nef, and fashion designer Telfar Clemens watched the night shift into a raucous dance party featuring a turntable trifecta of Macy Rodman, Charlene Incarnate, and DJ Auntie Spice.
Amid all the glitter and leeches (yes, there were live leeches as part of a performance), the message from Performance Space was clear. As a haven for radical and queer voices since 1980, it left its parting words on custom t-shirts created for the event that read: “PROMOTE PERFORMANCE” and “PERFORM HOMOSEXUALITY.” (The latter was also the event's unofficial dress code.)
In a city that thrives on reinvention, Performance Space New York proved it’s still leading the cultural charge—one wild moment at a time.
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