Two white sculptures stood grandly erect on a corridor of green, stately gentlemen greeting guests for the annual summer benefit at LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton. In plaster over burlap, the work by the artist/ filmmaker/ sculptor Julian Schnabel fit the earthy yet well-groomed site, a home to art by Yoko Ono and Buckminster Fuller. Schnabel was to be honored that evening, along with fashion designer Donna Karan. At cocktails, Schnabel’s family, his wife Louise Kugelberg, and sons Vito, Cy, and Olmo Schnabel circled Julian as Hal Willner, Zac Posen, Laurie Anderson, and Benjamin-Sainte Clementine gathered and kibitzed before the celebration. Laurie would perform that evening, and Julian brought Ben to perform too, at a dinner hosted by Jack Lenor Larsen. Ralph Gibson, Florence Fabricant, Fern Mallis, and many others wore rose for the occasion, themed la vie en rose.

The art auction featured work by Ai Wei Wei, Basquiat, Clemente, Cai Guo-Qiang, the artist of explosions honored at Longhouse in 2017. A 2018 iris print from Joel Grey’s much-lauded flower photograph collection and a 1984 Peter Hujar print of the Philip Glass ensemble in clothes by Dianne B was also auctioned. Schnabel will loan Longhouse two sculptures to replace two by John Chamberlain on the LongHouse grounds. The artist is not yet sure which ones. Wearing rose-colored glasses with gold or silver frames, or not, guests could see that the work on display would fit beautifully.