By Ann Binlot. With all the craze of Art Basel Miami Beach — the cancellation of the W magazine party due to unsafe wind conditions; bumper to bumper traffic; and too many parties to count — guests gathered last night for a party and dinner in the Moore Building of Miami Design District to fête Dacra CEO and Design Miami co-founder Craig Robins, who was honored with the Montblanc De La Culture Arts Patronage Award. As guests were mingling during the event, artist Jona Cerwinskie was present, creating a mesmerizing graffiti work that mixed hieroglyphic-like characters with curves and lines. Pharrell Williams (who was quite miffed about the price of a coveted Murakami piece) presented Robins with the award in the presence of architect Zaha Hadid (whose “Elastika” installation is the centerpiece of the Moore Building), Miami Heat basketball player Chris Bosh, DSquared2 designers Dan and Dean Carten, and actress Eva Green.
After Robins received the award and €15,000 to donate to the organization of his choice, Miami’s Design Architecture High School, French electro band Yelle performed for the crowd. “I think it’s really great for him,” Hadid told ARTINFO. “He’s done a lot for the city.” “He’s really worked on the preservation of South Beach,” Williams told ARTINFO. “He’s a really good guy and besides him being my friend, I’m just honored to know someone who has had that kind of influence, to be able to keep art, fashion, and design here and still important and relevant in this town.”
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Pharrell was also upset because he couldn’t buy the giant Takashi Murakami plush sculpture he was lusting after at Art Basel Miami Beach. The approximately $700,000 price tag was more than the Williams was willing to spend. ”I can’t do it yet,” Williams told ARTINFO. “It pissed me off!”.
Pharrell Williams, Zaha Hadid & Craig Robbins
Pharrell Williams presented the Montblanc De La Culture Arts Patronage Award to Design Miami co-founder Craig Robbins, the boisterous audience was anything but focused on paying homage to the man credited with the renaissance of Design District. “I know ya’ll wanna get your free drink on, but come on now,” the N*E*R*D frontman said, attempting to heel the well-heeled. That included Zaha Hadid, Chris Bosh, Eva Green and Dan and Dean Carten of DSquared. It took a few uncomfortable minutes before the audience succumbed to Williams’ schooling, and the quiet lasted long enough for Robbins to quickly claim his huge award.