Matthew Barney Toasts Beaver, Err. . . Nancy Spector

Bomb Magazine has posted images and audio from its recent 29th Anniversary Gala & Silent Auction at The National Arts Club in New York City. Follow the link and scroll down to listen to Matthew Barney's toast to honoree Nancy Spector (curator of his Cremaster retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum), including a somewhat lengthy exposition on the habits of beaver.

Matthew Barney at the National Arts Club

We at Cremaster Fanatic weren't feeling well last Friday, so we missed Matthew Barney's appearance at the National Arts Club. Barney's partner Bjork was also apparently unable to attend, but their daughter Isadora was there, drawing pictures and dancing. Other celebrity sightings include paralympic athlete Aimee Mullins (the "Cheetah Woman" from Cremaster 2), gallerists Barbara Gladstone and Mary Boone, fashion designers Lizzie Fortunato and Timo, film director Michael Gondry, and artist Will Cotton. Music for the event was provided by the Beatrice Inn’s D.J. Rian Fossett and the group Fluxconcert.

Barney, pictured above with National Arts Club president Aldon James, was awarded the Medal of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Art. Apparently, Barney's acceptance speech was limited to a brief "Thank you."

You can see more pictures from the evening at http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/R8d5a-EDBfI/National+Arts+Club+Honors+Matthew+Barney/0jcpqL1daIg
Additional coverage:
Oly's Musings
Vanity Fair
New York Sun

Matthew Barney to be Honored by The National Arts Club

Matthew Barney will be presented with the Citation of Merit for Achievement in the Visual Arts by the National Arts Club in New York City on Friday, April 11 at 8 pm. Tickets for the reception are $50 for members and $75 for non-members, light refreshments will be served. RSVP to (212) 475-3424 by April 4 if you wish to attend. www.nationalartsclub.org