NOBODY DOES IT BETTER FOR A BELOVED LEADER

By Katlean de Monchy–

There are Hamptons parties, and then there are rooms that tell you who the Hamptons really are. August 7 at Guild Hall was one of those parties.

Laurie Anderson, Julian Schnabel, Louise Kugelberg, Donna Karan and Carla Rae Prober (Photo credit: Jessica Dalene Photography/BFA)

The occasion was the museum’s Summer Gala, but this was different from its usual event. Guild Hall was celebrating its director, Andrea Grover, for her ten years of service.  The artists, authors, business executives, actors, philanthropists and art collectors gathered that night, along with the institution’s devoted East Hampton residents, had quickly sold out the dinner, cocktail party and late night dance party.

The artists Robert Longo, Cindy Sherman, Ross Bleckner, April Gornik and Eric Fischl, Julian Schnabel, Barbara Kruger, Arcmanoro Niles, Almond Zigmund,  Laurie Anderson, Toni Ross, Shantell Martin, David Salle, Michael Halsband and Jason Bard Yarmosky were there. The art advisor Kim Heirston came. Donna Karan, Mary Jane Marcasiano and John Wattiker represented fashion. Media, movies, television: Katie Couric, Carl Bernstein, Katie Holmes and Max Bennett (remember “Poldark”?) There were plenty of what every gala needs: millionaire business leaders, foundation heads and art collectors, who include Jeffrey Sellers, Barbara Tober and Jane Wagner, the producer and partner of Lily Tomlin.

The evening also celebrated the opening of Ross Bleckner’s show “Never the Less” and Eric Freeman’s “The Volumn of Color.” Bleckner was gracious in receiving people in his two galleries during cocktails. There was very little social climbing that night. August 7 at Guild Hall was about something else.

Donna Karan with Ross Bleckner; she never took her sunglasses off, but she circulated widly. (Photo credit:Katlean De Monchy)

Guild Hall’s effervescent Andrea Grover greeted guests at the step-and-repeat photo sessions and circulated briefly during the cocktail party. But she tires easily, and her staff and friends were nearby to make sure she did not overdo. Her nonstop smile hid what in fact was a struggle with ALS (ayotrophic lateral sclerosis), a disease of the nervous system. Grover got a definitive diagnosis with the chronic disease in January, after experiencing weekness in her right leg.

Katie Couric and Andrea Grover at the step-and-repeat (Photo credit: BFA)

The disease usually carries a death sentence of three to five years but doctors at the Mayo Clinic believe she has a mutation that will allow them to treat, and possibly cure, the disease.

She has been open in telling coworkers, the art world and East Hampton about her situation, a necessity, since she had needed accommodations. In return, her staff acts like silent helpers. Their eyes are on her for any sign of weakness. An arm or a chair is always nearby but never obvious. The guests who greeted her that night, in turn, all seemed filled with warmth and affection. It was a love boat.

Amy Kirwin, one of the more vivacious staff members, looked out for her boss’ welfare, behind the scene. (Photo credit: BFA)

Grover was wearing an ethereal silk dress by Ulla Anderson, who has a shop in Amagansett. The silk was printed with Helen Frankenthaler’s colorful 1957 painting “Western Dream.” Delicate white feathers were individually embroidered onto the dress giving it a gossamer affect that made it seem she was fluttering around like a hummingbird. “Western Dream” was a particularly appropriate choice for Grover, who had lived in Houston. In 1998 she had started Aurora Picture Show, a micro cinema, in her home, a desanctified church. Aurora Picture Show is thriving. In fact, it sent a film to the gala, narrated by Robert Downey Jr., that sums up Grover’s career in three delirious minutes.

The actor Max Bennett, Katie Holmes, the artist Jason Bard Yarmosky (Photo credit:: BFA)

The theme of the dinner tent was pink. The event planner Anthony Taccetta Design must have sent out a contract for every pink Gerbera daisy in the country for the tabless. Ross Bleckner spoke as did Marty Cohen. Andrea Grover was then introduced and presented with a custom piece of art: a small  enamel statue of Guild Hall with her name emblazened overhead.

She was given a spontaneous standing ovation.

April Gornik, Eric Fishl, Sophie Chaninian, Robert Longo (Photo credit: Jessica Dalene/BFA)

Her message was simple, and one she had spoken about in relation to her recent diagnosis. Art, living with art, is a source of inspiration and wonder; Artists, she says, imagine the future. “They’re the first people to imagine a reality that doesn’t yet exist—and then they convince the rest of us to join them.”

And then she invited everyone to join her in a toast to the future. Eacb place setting had magically been provided with a shot of Patron tequila. You can take a girl out of Texas. There was a racket as shot glasses hit the tables.

And then there was a surprise. Amy Steinhaus Kirwin and Kristin Eberstadt revealed a double panel behind the podium: two quilts made up of 81 squares provided by individual artists, meanst to keep Andrea Grover warm when she wants to stay home some days and rest. (Read the story of the quilt.)

Andrea Grover and the producer Peter Seller (BFA)

The Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller then led the room in spirited bidding for auction items that brought the total raised for the evening to $1 million.

But the night was far from over. Every gala at Guild Hall ends with a dance party. This one starred the Cherry Bombs, with lead vocals by none other than Lola Lama, Andrea Grover’s older daughter.

Gigi Lama, Andrea Grover, Lola Lama; Lola is the singer, Gigi is a photographer. Their father, Carlos Lama, is a DJ.

She had changed out of a demure white dress into something more fitting for power ballads. Because this is a family with endless energy, there was an after-after party back at their home in Sag Harbor. Andrea and her husband have turned their living room into the Ponderosa Lounge. It is equipped with stage lights, a sound system, drums, a keyboard and set up for a DJ. Amy Kirwin acted as DJ for at least part of the night. And Lola Lama was often at the mic;