Attending Legends 2013 - A Pratt Institute Scholarship Benefit Honoring Icons of Art and Design
Pratt Institute is a prestigious New York City college that is highly ranked for its programs in architecture, interior design, and industrial design. For the past fifteen years, Pratt has organized a scholarship benefit honoring icons of art and design. This year, my friend, designer David Easton, was one of the honorees and I was asked to be the presenter of his award. The other honorees were writer Pete Hamill, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest Margaret Russell, and artist James Turrell. I wanted to share some of my presentation speech with all of you.
The first time I met David Easton was many years ago at a dinner party. Here was this charming man, perfectly delightful, a wonderful conversationalist and I didn't have a clue who he was. Suddenly, he turns to me and asks, "What kind of houses do you like?" So I mentioned three homes that I thought were comfortable and excellent examples of fine interior design: a Manhattan townhouse on 73rd Street; a mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut; and the very home we were dining that night in Easton, Connecticut. He smiled and said, "I designed all those houses." From that moment on, I have been in awe of this man - influenced by him, educated by him, inspired by his intellectual curiosity and vast knowledge. He has inspired so many people through the years - as a master of the realms of architecture and interior design; as an elegant interpreter of classical design, and an enthusiastic proponent of modernism and simplicity; as the creator of an ever-evolving aesthetic of graciousness, elegance, and beauty; and as a phenomenal mentor who has helped more aspiring designers, architects, and decorators than anyone in the profession.
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