The New York Botanical Garden hosted the Conservatory Ball, celebrating its summer exhibition, ...Things Come to Thrive...In the Shedding...In the Molting... by contemporary artist, Ebony G. Patterson. The site-specific exhibition features breathtaking and provocative displays of art and nature. Patterson’s work captivated guests with the beauty of exotic flora and garden-inspired installations – from a monumental peacock sculpture to swarms of gliter-encrusted vultures. Inspired by her immersion in NYBG’s collections, Patterson’s work explores entaglements of race, gender and colonialism while inviting viewers to contemplate their own relationships with gardens and the natural world. The evening, supported by The Bancorp, Bartlett Tree Experts, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Hearst, Perrier-Jouët and French Bloom funds the Botanical Garden’s preeminent botanical research, Horticulture, and Children’s Education programs.
The black-tie affair kicked off with a lively cocktail hour as guests experienced Patterson’s immersive exhibition spread across NYBG’s iconic 250-acre landscape. Following cocktails, guests were ushered into the Conservatory Tent for a sit-down dinner and dancing, with music by DJ Runna.
This year’s attendees included Chairs, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Bartlett Jr., Friederike K. Biggs, Georgina Bloomberg, Maureen K. and Richard L. Chilton, Jr., J. Barclay Collins II and Kristina Durr, Ravenel Curry and Jane Moss, Gillian Hearst, Sharon Jacob, Jill Joyce, Deborah Goodrich Royce, Tina and Steven R. Swartz and Sigourney Weaver. Vice chairs included Michael Kovner and Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Barbara Robinson, Jean Shafiroff, Elaine and Donald Textor, Douglas Dockery Thomas and Mr. and Mrs. Edward K. Weld. This year’s junior chairs were Hope Chilton, Cecilia Jacob, Stella Jacob, Sean Joyce, Arielle Patrick and Sophia Robert. Additional guests included Amy Fine Collins, Fe Fendi, Alex Lundquist, Eric Rutherford, Flora Collins, Shar Simpson, and Lili Buffett.
