Afternoon with Peter H. Mackie

This past Sunday, Victory Club hosted a luncheon at Peter H. Mackie's beautiful Chelsea loft. Henrik Olsson, New York Director of the Olsson Art Collection, gave members and guests a tour of the loft, and the art housed inside of it.

Members and guests learn about Peter's art.

Peter H. Mackie at the table.

The menu evoked much of Peter's most recent work: painted metallic forms on top of athletic objects, such as boxing or baseball gloves, helmets, and riding saddles were referenced in the metallic salmon skin and silver plated pumpkin seeds. The meal also paid tribute to the colorful houses filling the space, created by Peter's late wife, Elba.

Menu.

Butternut squash soup.

Peter's art was the centerpiece on the table and of the afternoon

Salmon with tomato fondue.

Chocolate house.

Members and guests had a great time viewing the art and enjoying the meal. Victory Club thanks Peter and Henrik for hosting!

Stephanie Nass and Peter H. Mackie.

Victory Club members and guests.

The Art of Hospitality at Florian

Victory Club was excited to host a luncheon last Saturday at Florian, the newest restaurant of friend Shelly Fireman.

James King, General Manager at Florian, shares Shelly's story.

Since the 1960s, Shelly has collected works by many of the masters of modern art, including works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Peter Max. While Shelly's dedication to hospitality and art is on display at all of his establishments, Florian uniquely displays Shelly's own works which he sculpts in the Pietrosanta region of Italy. These large bronze statues depict individuals performing household tasks, which further emphasize his passion for hospitality.

Shelly's sculpture at the bar at Florian.

The event began with prosecco, and segued into a delicious three course meal prepared by Chef Brando de Oliveira.

Menu.

Birthday candles for Michael Yoon and Charlie Aidinoff.

A great time was had by all, and Victory Club thanks Florian for hosting!

Stephanie Nass.

Lunch with Jennifer Louise Martin at Gallery 151

This past Saturday, Victory Club celebrated the opening of Jennifer Louise Martin's exhibition, The Absence of Presence, at Gallery 151 with a luncheon for Victory Club members and guests.

Jennifer Louise Martin's work.

Most of Jennifer's works make use of textiles, and the exhibition incidentally opens during New York Fashion Week. Jennifer reflects on a week celebrating the fashion industry with paintings based on Vogue Magazine covers and uses real fabrics, in addition to canvas, to draw further reference to the fashion industry. Interestingly, Jennifer creates her first ever faceless portraits in this series. 

The three-course lunch served was inspired by Jennifer's works, specifically focusing on the color palette in her pieces. In addition to Stephanie's cooking, members and guests enjoyed rosé from Bodvár of Sweden.

Handpainted menu for event with Jennifer Louise Martin and Gallery 151

"Leaves and lemons," inspired by the adjacent painting

Margaret Lefton observing the artwork.

Chilled corn soup.

Ice cream with chocolate sauce

Jennifer Louise Martin with her work.

It was a great, intimate lunch for Victory Club members, and we thank Gallery 151 for hosting!

Stephanie Nass and Jennifer Louise Martin standing by their respective artworks 

Dinner with Jack and Dolly Geary

Last Thursday, Jack and Dolly Geary of Geary Contemporary hosted Victory Club members for a tour of their private collection and a dinner inspired by it in their apartment in New York City.

The table set for 12 members and guests, surrounded by painting and sculpture.  

Their collection ranges from Paul Gaugin and Lucien Freud to contemporary artist and friend, David Goodman. Their collection includes works by many of the artists that Geary Contemporary represents, but also some works they've personally acquired over the years.

Artwork by David Goodman, inspired by the thick piles of newspapers mounted all over Berlin, Germany

The evening began with a tour led by Jack and Dolly. The collection includes many pieces for which fabrics and yarn are primary media. 

Members and guests learning about the Geary's private art collection at their home in Manhattan

Work by Lina Puerta, one of the artists that Geary Contemporary represents

Taking inspiration from the collection, the menu evoked textiles where possible. 

Course #1: Chilled Zucchini Soup with a woven pastry garnish

Course #2: Pistachio Crusted Salmon with tangled asparagus

Dessert: Stone Fruit Pie with a loom crust

Bodvár of Sweden rosé in the Geary's living room in front of a work by Mona Hatoum, who currently has a show at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

It was a beautiful evening - thank you Jack and Dolly!

Members and Guests with Jack and Dolly Geary

Art and Impact for HELP USA

Joshua Peters is a filmmaker and photographer who grew up at Genesis Homes, one of HELP USA's facilities in Brooklyn. His work reflects his background and makes a commentary on American society. On Tuesday night before a HELP USA fundraiser, Victory Club members had a conversation with Joshua about his work. HELP USA was founded in 1986 to help build homes and futures for America's homeless. 

Photocredit: Kolin Mendez

Photocredit: Kolin Mendez

Photocredit: Kolin Mendez

Evening with Candy and Michael Barasch

The Victory Club project was developed for college graduates who studied liberal arts but now work outside of creative industries. For many members, Victory Club meals are their only exposure to the arts, and the attraction is the efficiency of having a meal, a lecture, and an opportunity to meet like-minded people in one event. Dinner last Thursday night was hosted by Michael and Candy Barasch, listed in ArtNews' Top 200 Collectors this and last year. The event was a special treat because it allowed Victory Club members to experience the contemporary art world in medias res. The collection boasts works by Wade Guyton and Richard Prince, and Candy's own passion about her collection enriched everyone's understanding of art today. 

Candy speaking to Victory Club. Photocredit: Margaret Lefton

The evening began with light canapés and bubbles. Candy, who rehangs her collection each year, engaged the group on the context of her collection and gave a brief tour. 

Victory Club tablescape. Photocredit: Margaret Lefton

The tour was followed by a three-course dinner. 

Stone fruit salad. Photocredit: Margaret Lefton

Seared tuna with vegetables. Photocredit: Margaret Lefton

Blueberry pie with dehydrated milk foam

Everyone had a great time, and we thank the Barasches for hosting Victory Club! 

Margaret Lefton and Sean Pi at dinner

Victory Club at the Beach

On Saturday, Fairweather magazine hosted Victory Club members for a summery luncheon on Shelter Island.

The event began with rosé from Topping Rose House at the pool. 

For lunch, everyone sat at a long table on the property's screened porch with a view of West Neck Bay. The breeze was perfect! 

Each place setting featured Fairweather's summer issue, beaded placemats from Kim Seybert, and perfume samples from Lurk. 

Fairweather's summer issue, beaded placemats from Kim Seybert, perfume samples from Lurk

The team behind the magazine gave background on the summer issue - its interviews with artist, Cai-Guo Quiang; artist and restauranteur, Michael Chow of Mr. Chow's; and architect, Patrick Tighe. 

The menu was locally sourced where possible: the duck came from New Jersey-based purveyor, D'Artagnan, the microgreens on every dish came from East Hampton farm, Good Water Farms; the fruits used throughout the meal came from Long Island farms, and the flowers came from the property itself. 

Watermelon salad with feta, balsamic glaze, and microgreens from Good Water Farms

Magret de canard from D'Artagnan, Bulls Blood Beet microgreens from Good Water Farms, leeks, plum sauce

Peach pie with Long Island peaches

After lunch, everyone was so relaxed and comfortable that Stephanie did mini cooking demonstrations: a lesson on taillage, how to prepare her seared duck breast, and the importance of tasting as you cook ...! 

Get in the mix here. 

Sunday with Saul Ostrow

Saul Ostrow is an art critic, curator, and professor. He founded Critical Practices, Inc. in 2010 to support new practices in the arts. His art collection features museum-worthy pieces by artists he knows personally. On Sunday afternoon, Saul Ostrow hosted Victory Club members and veterans of majestic disorder magazine to an intimate luncheon at his loft in Chelsea. 

Saul Ostrow engaging the group.

The afternoon began with vino and a lecture. Saul gave background on his work and collection and then David Goodman, a painter whose work appears in Saul's collection and is the director of CPI's programming, spoke about the painting of his that hangs in Saul's living room. 

Everyone sat for lunch. 

Guests dining at the table

Majestic Disorder's senior features writer, Callahan Tormey (who flew from Chicago for the event,) and graphic designer, Vicente Vasquez, spoke about the London-based magazine's mission. There was a copy of Issue IV at each place, and guests gushed over it. The editors of the London-based magazine came to the Victory Club pop up in London ... and the rest is history!

Stephanie plating strawberry shortcake with majestic disorder magazine Issue IV (image via @majesticdisorder)

Stephanie illustrated the summery menu, which featured products from D'Artagnan. 

Illustrated menu.

Filet mignon from D'Artagnan, alongside CPI's LEF(t) publication 

Stephanie serving dessert. 

Palm leaf carrot cake below palm leaf centerpieces.

Saul Ostrow most loves 3 things: foie gras, vodka, and cigars. While there was no vodka on Sunday, there was truffle foie gras from D'artagnan, a food purveyor that provides the best quality meats, charcuterie, and mushrooms. There were also Cohiba cigars.

It was a wonderful afternoon. Thank you, Saul! 

Howard Chandler Christy at The Leopard

After a healthy article in the New York Observer last week, veteran members, new members, and prospective members gathered to celebrate the Howard Chandler Christy murals at The Leopard at des Artistes this Sunday. 

Victory Club founder Stephanie Nass and Victory Club member Clare McLaughlin toasting with rosé

Member Clare McLaughlin engaged the group with a talk on the murals surrounding the tables. Clare earned her Masters in Art History from The Courtauld Institute in London and now works at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. She is passionate about her work for Arts in the Armed Forces  and volunteers every chance she gets. Clare spoke on Christy's oeuvre with great poise and humor. 

Howard Chandler Christy murals. Photocredit: The Leopard at des Artistes

After the speech, Clare walked the group through the restaurant's other rooms, leaving us to admire the luncheon's Italian delicacies. 

Straciatella Soup, Gnudi atop Sautéed Spinach, and Green Salad while Members toured the restaurant's Howard Chandler Christy murals

Swedish rosé house, Bodvár of Sweden, provided the rosé, which was the perfect accompaniment to the afternoon's summery fare. 

"Victory Club loves Bodvár of Sweden"

Stephanie Nass and brother Teddy Nass love Bodvár of Sweden

The menu featured Italian specialties. 

Members reveling in each other's company and the murals' beauty  

Luncheon at Neuman's Kitchen

On Saturday, Victory Club hosted a luncheon in the tasting room above Neuman's Kitchen on the Lower East Side. 

Members and guests enjoying lunch

Neuman's Kitchen is a catering company that inspires people through its artistic and delicious fare. The hors d'oeuvres are gorgeous and high concept; the menus are seasonal and thoughtful; and the serving pieces are innovative and highly functional. Everyone who works at Neuman's Kitchen considers details. This kind of thinking trickles down from the top; Paul Neuman, who founded the business thirty years ago, is himself an artist who incorporates his sense of aesthetics into the food for which the company is known. 

Paul Neuman giving the context around his career, how his family's fish business combined with his passion for making art, led to his creative catering business.

Growing up, Paul Neuman worked in his family's fish business and then went to art school. In his talk, he explained how work at Neuman's Kitchen and in his studio are respectively influenced by his passion for the visual and culinary arts. His discussion generated a rich conversation that kept the group engaged until the early evening. Moreover, the centerpieces on the table were little sculptures Paul designed to hold crudités, and the dining room included many of his pieces. 

Little sculptures that hold crudités, designed by Paul Neuman

The food itself was superlative. As the event was a collaboration, Victory Club and Neuman's Kitchen divvied up the dishes. 

Neuman's Kitchen's Adam Starowicz, who has worked at Momofuku Ko and Mas Farmhouse, took on the hors d'oevures and desserts.

Beet chips

Miniature lobster rolls, served on a platter designed by Paul Neuman

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Mint Purée, Earl Grey Meringue, Vanilla Gel, and Berries

Victory Club founder, Stephanie Nass, took on the appetizer and main course.

Chilled Asparagus Soup garnished with Crispy Onions, Fiddlehead Ferns, and Edible Flower Petals

Stephanie Nass plating the asparagus soup

Moulard Duck Breast with Rhubard Purée and Leeks à l'Anglaise

After lunch was served, guests lingered. And lingered :) 

To find out how you can get in the Victory Club mix, click here.