The Architectural League of New York's Beaux Arts Ball 2009: MANUFACTURE June 6, 2009

Architectural League’s Beaux Arts Ball to be held on June 6.

Open studios and activities produced in collaboration with XØ Projects Inc. and the tenants of The Old American Can Factory.

Annual benefit for the lectures and exhibitions program of the Architectural League of New York

Beaux Arts Ball 2009: MANUFACTURE
Saturday, June 6, 2009
9:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. +
The Old American Can Factory
232 Third Street at Third Avenue
Gowanus, Brooklyn

New York City, May 14, 2009 – The Architectural League of New York, an independent forum for contemporary architecture and design, will hold its annual Beaux Arts Ball on Saturday, June 6, 2009, from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. at The Old American Can Factory at 232 Third Street in Brooklyn. Co-chaired by Andrew & Nicole Bernheimer, Jared & Carolina Della Valle, Granger Moorhead & Penelope Hardy, and Robert Moorhead & Maggie Wright, the Beaux Arts Ball will bring together more than eight hundred architects, designers, artists and friends for an evening of drinks and dancing in the specially illuminated courtyard and former industrial space of this imaginatively renovated late 19th Century factory.

Each year, an architecturally significant site is selected for a set of thematic installations and activities designed by architects and designers in related disciplines. In 2006, the young Brooklyn-based firm Freecell used more than 50,000 feet of string and thousands of neon beads to completely transform the raw warehouse space of the Mink Building in Harlem. In 2007, the multi-disciplinary firm 2x4, working with Moko Omaha, designed a set of three unique environments, including a fog room and a mylar lounge, at the performance space 3-Legged Dog. In 2008, Playtime inspired a set of specially commissioned interactive installations and environments including youTube dance lessons, Pong projections and life-sized inflatable balls by Leven Betts Studio, Lyn Rice Architects and OBRA Architects.

This year’s theme, MANUFACTURE, will draw on an existing community of artists, designers, performers and other makers to collaborate with guests and each other in creating a festive communal event. The League will also hold a special locally-sourced pre-Ball dinner for Benefactors on the roof of The (OA) Can Factory. Limited to seventy-five people, the dinner will be an intimate celebration including studio visits with well-known artists to kick off the evening’s festivities.

The Beaux Arts Ball 2009 is produced in collaboration with XØ Projects Inc. Invitation design for the party is by Pentagram. The party will feature music by DJ Chris Annibell/Afrokinetic and lighting by Wingspace. Drinks and light fare will be provided by local brewers, vintners and vendors.

Tickets are $25-$500. For information, please call 212-753-1722, ext. 10. Tickets may be purchased on the League’s website, at www.archleague.org.
The Beaux Arts Ball helps support the League’s ongoing lectures and exhibitions program. The 2009 Beaux Arts Ball is made possible, in part, through generous support from Patron Firms Ken Smith Landscape Architect, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP, and Tsao & McKown Architects.

To view an evolving list of open studios and activities partners for the evening, and to see pictures from past year’s events, please visit the Special Events page at www.archleague.org.

ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE
The mission of the Architectural League is to advance the art of architecture.

The League carries out its mission by promoting excellence and innovation, and by fostering community and discussion in an independent forum for creative and intellectual work in architecture, urbanism, and related disciplines. We present the work and ideas of the world's most interesting and influential architects and designers to New York, national and international audiences, through lectures, exhibitions, publications, and the worldwide web. We identify and encourage talented young architects, through competitions, grants, exhibitions, and publications. And we help shape the future of our built environment by stimulating debate and provoking design thinking about the critical issues of our time.

ABOUT THE OLD AMERICAN CAN FACTORY
The Old American Can Factory, an historic six-building, 130,000 SF industrial complex on the Gowanus Canal’s Fifth Street Basin, is a new place in an old space – a place where things are still being made. It is a curated haven to more than 200 artisans, fabricators, artists, designers, filmmakers, publishers and non-profit organizations working in the creative industries. They conceive, manufacture and distribute a myriad of ideas, experiences and products that aim to enhance the lives of others. The (OA) Can Factory was developed and is operated by XØ Projects Inc.

The (OA) Can Factory sponsors and partners of the Beaux Arts Ball include Adelman Studio, Archipelago Books, The Canary Project, Center for Urban Pedagogy, Justine Cooper, Abraham Espinosa, Hable Construction Textiles, Issue Project Room, Anna Johansson, Laleh Khorramian, Andrea Lilienthal, Lite Brite Neon, Nathaniel Rowan, Moey Inc, Nicholson Glass Studio, Parable Ink, Bradford Reed, Rooftop Films, SchoolHouse Kitchen, Swayspace, Marisa Tesauro, Ugly Duckling Presse, UrbanOmnibus, Christine Vasan Design, Vena Cava, Wingspace, and Winter Water Factory.

Official Website: http://www.archleague.org