Liv Tyler, Robot, Mariah Carey, Russell Simmons, Hamptons
Liv Tyler, actress and daughter of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, doesn’t like flat television screens.
“Everyone looks short and wide,” Tyler said Friday in the pebbled courtyard of Jerry Della Femina’s oceanfront home in East Hampton, New York. “I’m sad I got rid of my box TV with the knobs and dials. That one I could have taught my kid how to use. It had an on/off button. I guess I’m old-fashioned.”
Wearing a black Givenchy cocktail dress with ribbons and zippers, Tyler joined Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon and James Marsden for a party and screening of their film “Robot & Frank,” in theaters in August.
The party was organized by the Cinema Society and sponsored by Rent the Runway Inc., founded by Harvard Business School classmates Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss. Waiters served an Italian supper and spread out blankets on the grass for guests watching the movie. The actors sat on sofas around the pool.
The film is set in the near future. TV screens are very thin, libraries are bookless, and robots are health-care aides who cook, clean, garden -- and pick locks.
Big Bang
Another robot turned up Saturday night at The Big Bang, a benefit for the Watermill Center, Robert Wilson’s artists compound in Watermill, New York.
This one steals from a grocery store and gets a lap dance, in a video shown on a big, boxy television set.
“‘Avatar’ is a critique of technology,” said the video’s maker, artist Tucker Marder. “The awkward, almost handicapping effect of the puppet mirrors many of the negative effects of things like Facebook and video chatting.”
At Watermill Center, the artworks included a man with a soccer-ball head moving back and forth between nets, a woman rolling around in the dirt, and breast and penis sculptures.
The Rush Philanthropic Art Foundation’s Art for Life benefit was just as colorful in a more mass-appeal way. Mariah Carey was honored, and Anita Baker, Salt-N-Pepa and Diggy Simmons, son of Reverend Run, performed. Balloon octopuses and starfish hung from the ceiling.
In these settings, there was optimism about the future.
“Hopefully it will be bright,” said Russell Simmons, impresario of the Art for Life benefit, which took place at his East Hampton home. “The economy is going to go up and we’ll find new ways to feed the hungry.”
“Robots and repair,” said Kyle DeWoody, co-founder of the retailer Grey Area.
For now, though, there are big, flashy benefits to revel in, as well as books -- Zosia Mamet of HBO’s “Girls” said she is reading “Moby-Dick” -- and sunsets.
Sarandon and Langella watched a beautiful one while they sat on a bale of hay on the beach.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
'Robot & Frank'
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
James Marsden, Liv Tyler and Frank Langella, stars of 'Robot & Frank.'
James Marsden, Liv Tyler and Frank Langella, stars of 'Robot & Frank.' Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
'Robot & Frank'
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, co-founders of Rent the Runway Inc. The company offers loans of clothes for special occcasions at the website RenttheRunway.com.
Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, co-founders of Rent the Runway Inc. The company offers loans of clothes for special occcasions at the website RenttheRunway.com. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
'Robot & Frank'
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Liv Tyler and Lucy Sykes Rellie, fashion director of Rent the Runway Inc.
Liv Tyler and Lucy Sykes Rellie, fashion director of Rent the Runway Inc. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
'Robot & Frank'
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Set up for the poolside screening.
Set up for the poolside screening. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
'Robot & Frank'
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watching the film from blankets on the Della Feminas' lawn.
Watching the film from blankets on the Della Feminas' lawn. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
'Robot & Frank'
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Looking at the party proceedings from the beach.
Looking at the party proceedings from the beach. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Guests arrive at the Watermill Center benefit.
Guests arrive at the Watermill Center benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Misaki Kawai's "Big Bubbles" on the facade of the Watermill Center main building.
Misaki Kawai's "Big Bubbles" on the facade of the Watermill Center main building. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Misaki Kawai's "Arty" in the Watermill Center forest.
Misaki Kawai's "Arty" in the Watermill Center forest. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The courtyard filled with guests as artist Kembra Pfahler and the Volutuous Horror of Karen Black performed.
The courtyard filled with guests as artist Kembra Pfahler and the Volutuous Horror of Karen Black performed. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Everyone is taking what Mother Nature gave us," Meredith Melling Burke, far right, senior market editor at Vogue, said, before posing with Karen Duffy, a fashion marketer, and Roopal Patel, a fashion consultant.
"Everyone is taking what Mother Nature gave us," Meredith Melling Burke, far right, senior market editor at Vogue, said, before posing with Karen Duffy, a fashion marketer, and Roopal Patel, a fashion consultant. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Kyle DeWoody, co-founder and creative director of Grey Area.
Kyle DeWoody, co-founder and creative director of Grey Area. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea, an art director, in Mary Katranzou. Of the future, she said, "Besides iPhones incorporated into our bodies? In 10 years I want to be in Argentina on a farm."
Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea, an art director, in Mary Katranzou. Of the future, she said, "Besides iPhones incorporated into our bodies? In 10 years I want to be in Argentina on a farm." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Rain did not stop the service of wine at the event.
Rain did not stop the service of wine at the event. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
Billy Farrell Agency via Bloomberg
Nick Cannon, Mariah Carey, and Russell Simmons.
Nick Cannon, Mariah Carey, and Russell Simmons. Source: Billy Farrell Agency via Bloomberg
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The scene in the party tent set up on Russell Simmons's lawn.
The scene in the party tent set up on Russell Simmons's lawn. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Record producer Babyface and L.A. Reid, CEO, Epic Records.
Record producer Babyface and L.A. Reid, CEO, Epic Records. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Diggy Simmons performed his hip-hop music at the Art for Life benefit.
Diggy Simmons performed his hip-hop music at the Art for Life benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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