The Museum of Arts and Design

Michele Cohen greeted dinner guests at Robert, MAD’s award winner restaurant, and presented the first award to Joan Hornig, who addressed the room saying, “I love that jewelry has the ability to transcend time, culture, and gender. I am honored to be associated with the only American museum to have a permanent space committed to showcasing its permanent jewelry collection along with contemporary innovators."

Dinner Co-Chairman, Marsy Mittlemann then presented the award to honoree Kay Unger. Beth Rudin DeWoody, acting as the voice of honoree Kay Unger who stood beside her stricken by bronchitis unable to speak, said “I am thrilled to join Joan Hornig not only in supporting the MAD Museum, but also in celebrating the artists and the creative spirit inherent to LOOT.” MAD Chairman Emerita, Barbara Tober presented Isabel and Ruben Toledo with a birthday cake at their seats. The Toledos’ designed the LOOT 2016 artwork for the invitation.

Benefit Committee were: Susan and Larry Ach, Loreen Arbus, Franci Blassberg, Geri Bondanza, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Robert Bradford, Joanne Brecker, Dr. Joyce F. Brown, Kathy Chazen, Simona and Jerome A. Chazen, Betsy Z. Cohen, Michele and Marty Cohen, Emily Cutler, Arlene Dahl, Adria de Haume, Jacqueline Weld Drake, Jamie Drake, Anita Durst, Nancy Fisher, Deban Flexner, Linda R. Gelfond, Lori Golden, Paul and Diane Guenther, Susan Gutfreund, Christie Hansen, Phyllis Hollis, Janet and Howard Kagan, Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan, Laureen S. Knutsen,  Day Kornbluth, Jane Koryn, Laura and Lewis Kruger,  Nanette L. Laitman, Sheila Lambert, Patricia and Andrew Langer, Meriel Lari, Luisa LaViola, Debra L. Lee, Valerie A. Lettan, Stacey Mayrock, Evelyn Musher, Maureen M. Nash, Liz and Jeff Peek, Mike Walsh Peissis, Linda Plattus, Jane Preiser, Deborah Roberts, Sara L. Schupf, Bobbie Seril, Malini Shah, Holly Shapiro, Barbara Karp Shuster, Maria Vecchiotti, Adrienne Vittadini, Barbara Waldman, Eunice Ward, Janet Winter, and Jan Alane Wysocki and Steven Wilson.


LOOT is the Museum of Arts and Design’s annual exhibition and sale of one-of-a-kind contemporary jewelry created by more than 40 of the world’s most innovative jewelry artists working in a range of materials including silver, pearls, and semiprecious stones, as well as more unconventional materials like glass, wood, hand-painted canvas, porcelain, papier mache, concrete, zinc, sequins, and feathers. For most of these artists this is their New York debut; all will be at the Museum to meet you and discuss their work.

The MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN (MAD) champions contemporary makers across creative fields, presenting artists, designers, and artisans who apply the highest level of ingenuity and skill to their work. Founded in 1956 by philanthropist and visionary Aileen Osborn Webb, MAD celebrates the creative processes by which materials are transformed, from traditional techniques to cutting-edge technologies. MAD emphasizes a cross-disciplinary approach to art and design and reveals the workmanship behind the objects and environments that shape our everyday lives. MAD provides an international platform for practitioners who are driving 21st-century innovation.