Linda Clifford, Stuart Kalinsky and
Marco |
Sir
Ivan Wilzig and Mei Sze |
DJ
Lee Kalt, Nikki Lopez and
Evan Kalt |
FONDRISI
GALLERY
Marco Margarita Party
Pops
On The Hamptons
Art Scene
Story by Edward T. Callaghan
Photos by Rob Rich
 OUTHAMPTON'S
usually quite Windmill Lane received a big burst of energy and
color with the opening of Fondrisi Gallery, dedicated to
exhibiting the works of the best international pop artists.
John
Fondrisi, who cut his teeth
in the hustle and bustle of
Soho
, decided to return to his native
East End
and take a crack at making a place for
himself in the
Hamptons
art market.
If his opening exhibition is any indication, J.J., as his
pals call him, is well on his way.
His premier
exhibition of internationally acclaimed artist Marco
pulled in the
Hamptons
’ hippest and most avid crowd of
collectors. Not
since Keith Harring has a young artist so quickly and indelibly impacted
both the commercial world and fine art scene.
In the past 10 years the colorful art of this
creative whirlwind – which blends classic pop with a joie
de vivre and kicky verve – has turned up on everything and
everyone, from conventional canvases and prints, to mouse pads,
high-fashion mannequins in GQ, duvet covers, even boxer shorts.
Watch giant Swatch commissioned Marco to paint over 50 of its
stores worldwide in addition to having him create the best selling
artist Swatch of all time, The
Alien Baby.
Power lawyer Barry
Slotnick and his wife Donna
were the first to arrive at the opening party.
They purchased three colorful and kooky Marco creations.
Stuart Kalinsky
also walked home with an original Marco.
Ivan
Wilzig, heir to a banking fortune, came down from his
Watermill castle with a limousine full of pretty young things and
two artists from his newly formed record label.
DJ Lee Kalt immediately popped into the sound system Ivan's latest techno
dance music. Add the
spicy jalapeno poppers and zesty margaritas and you had the
perfect complement to Marco's works that flooded three rooms with
brilliant color.
The fun-loving art crowd included
designer/author Mary Ellen
Winston, Susan
Schwartzmann, Joseph Velez with his new fiancée Shaska
Star, top Kerry
fundraiser Sandra Bennett with her daughter Lisa, and the
artist's parents Pat
and Phil Marco, who
ferried over from their
North Fork
vineyard.
Hat designer Tracy
Tooker, who has
covered the heads of the Hamptons elite and every first lady since
Roslyn Carter, was
back on the Job's Lane scene just in time to dress the polo and
garden party crowd.
Fondrisi, so thrilled with the success of
Marco's exhibition –14 of his oversized works were sold that
night alone – that he plans on making the Marco Margarita Party
an annual event. We'll
be there!
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