ForYourArt Coverage of MoCA private opening reception

Jessica Trent, Karyn Kohl and Bennett Simpson

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HAPPY HOUSE, ForYourArt, and Opening Ceremony celebrate New MOCA Exhibition

From Happy House co-founder Jessica Trent

I come from a beautiful, small town in Virginia and through all my work, worldly travels and life experiences which have brought me to the big city, I am still thankfully in awe of what we can experience in life each day. I eschew jaded perceptions of this lovely city. There is a real energy and renaissance happening in all the creative industries here, which like many of you, I find incredibly exciting and inspiring.

Last Sunday Happy House at MOCA (the support council I co-chair along with Karyn Kohl and Ezra Woods) organized a private opening reception co-hosted by ForYourArt and visionary retailer Opening Ceremony for MOCA’s Collecting History: Highlighting Recent Acquisitions.

MOCA. Sterling Ruby.

Sterling Ruby. SP21. 2008. spray paint on canvas. 100"x 144."

So, here is what I've been up to work-wise. We had a superb turnout for and response to the launch of MOCA's Happy House. Its exciting to be involved in the birth of something new, creative, and out of the box as the saying goes.

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) launched a brand new support council, MOCA Happy House, on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at an exclusive preview and champagne reception celebrating the opening of Los Angeles-based artist Sterling Ruby's first solo museum exhibition, MOCA Focus: Sterling Ruby, SUPERMAX 2008. A black-light after-party was hosted by MOCA Happy House and its founders Karyn Kohl and Ezra Woods at the Mandrake Bar.

Artist Sterling Ruby and curator Phillip Kaiser with Jessica + Ezra.

Karyn (in a strapless vintage Valentino from Resurrection + African Kazuri bead necklace and MOCA's Adam Gross.

In an effort to inspire a new generation of cultural philanthropists, Happy House Chair Karyn Kohl—a dedicated MOCA patron and supporter of Sterling Ruby's installation at MOCA Pacific Design Center—and Ezra Woods will be collaborating with the museum to create unique events and outreach for an influential, young demographic interested in cultural engagement. The mission of MOCA Happy House is centered on cultivating lifelong philanthropic habits and generating support for MOCA programming.

Stephanie & Harold without Maude.
Ezra--always a dapper gent. He picked this dress out for me by the amazing designer Marios Schwab. The print is intestines. Underlayer prints are muscle & lung tissue. Alexis Bittar jewelry. Gaetano Perrone for Te Casan shoes. 1950's Vintage Whiting & Davis bag (a gift from Virginia friend Amy Wilson for my birthday in 1992!)

Thank you to Karyn & Ezra, the staff at MOCA and our amazing intern army!!!!