‘The Hillary Effect’ Is Felt at W Magazine’s Party Celebrating Female Artists

Peter Dundas and Stefano Tonchi at the opening of “No Man’s Land: Women Artists From the Rubell Family Collection.” Photo: Neil Rasmus, BFAnyc.com

One of the many Art Basel fetes that took place on Tuesday night included the opening of “No Man’s Land” at the Rubell Family Collection where one couldn’t help but feel the collective surge of girl power in the air. The evening, which was cohosted by W Magazine and Roberto Cavalli, celebrated the works of 150 female artists ranging from the established (Cindy Sherman, Elizabeth Peyton) to the new gals on the block (Jennifer Giudi, Silke Otto-Knapp). With talk of the gender gap and reproductive rights more prevalent than ever, the timing of this particular show felt particularly significant.

“I think it’s a magical moment for women,” W’s editor in chief, Stefano Tonchi told Yahoo Style. “I don’t know, I would love to call it the ‘Hillary Effect.’ I think we might have a woman for president for the first time in American history, and still there is so much to be done to give equal recognition to the work of women. This is in art, in cinema, as in many different mediums.”

Tonchi went on to explain that women’s rights have been an ongoing topic for his publication as of late. “We had a great cover story with Jane Fonda, who really took the talk of the pay gap to a new level when she discovered that she was not paid the same as her male costars. She got very talkative about it, very loud. I think that was a very strong signal. And I love how Jennifer Lawrence really speaks her mind as well. I think from the time of the Guerilla Girls, that you haven’t seen such a strong statement of women power as you do right now.”

Roberto Cavalli’s Peter Dundas, meanwhile, touted the merging of art and fashion at a time when most brands are only looking at the bottom line. “I think ultimately we’re making things that provoke emotions in people whether it’s desire in fashion or more profound emotions in art, so I do think there is a common ground there.”

The designer didn’t have long to soak up his surroundings though; he was in for one night only and due back on a plane to New York at 7am. “Designers we need the time to think, we need the time to let our imagination go. And I think that’s maybe the challenge today, finding that time,” he said before heading to the post-party dinner which was hosted by the Rubells on their tennis court behind the museum.

As waiters handsome waiters plied attendees with tequila drinks, talk quickly turned back to the ladies when the matriarch of the family, Mera, addressed the well-heeled crowd. “The important thing is that there are endlessly sexy, endlessly brilliant women at every table tonight,” she said before cracking a joke that no one knew whether to take seriously or not. “I just love every one of you. It’s not that I don’t love men, and it’s not that my husband doesn’t love women because after all he was a gynecologist.”

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