THE METAL BALL

Performa Founder Roselee Goldberg with Artist, Cindy Sherman 

PERFORMA Presents THE METAL BALL a spectacular one-of-a-kind PERFORMA Benefit Event, Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Cedar Lake, West Chelsea, New York

Roselee Goldberg, Founder of Performa, a non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization exploring the critical role of live performance in contemporary art took Chelsea by storm on Saturday evening with The Metal Ball, a dazzling benefit event held at Cedar Lake on West 26th Street. The Metal Ball, inspired by the Bauhaus’ 1929 Metallic Festival, when the famous school was decorated entirely in metallic colors and substances as guests reveled in an exuberant festival of music, light and action. On Saturday night, a similar atmosphere was re-created with the help of the talented Light + Stage Design with props and art direction by the Fluxus expert and artist, Zach Rockhill. Special performances by Dorit Chrysler, Jesper Just, DJ Nick Hallett, Scissor Sisters band member Ana Matronic, electronic music group Spiral Blaster, contemporary dance duo robbinschilds and a hilarious act from performance artist Dynasty Handbag. Many of the guests stepped up to the plate and donned metal—silver, bronze, gold—and for those who couldn’t quite pull it off, an Emergency Sewing Project under the direction of fashion designer Carlos Soto was on tap to create instant metallic couture. The evening took a poignant turn when short documentary films were screened on Performa honorees: Philanthropist Toby Devan Lewis and filmmaker and artist Isaac Julien. Each honoree received a unique award designed by the artist Adam Pendleton. Pendleton personally awarded Toby Devan Lewis and Thelma Golden presented Isaac Julien with his Adam as the award is fondly called. More information is available at www.performa-arts.org