Raising over 3 million dollars, more than 1,100 prominent members in the art, fashion, media, business communities turned out on October 21, 2008  in support of the Whitney Museum of American Art's Gala and Studio Party sponsored by Versace. Co-chaired by Allison Kanders, Liz Swig and Dontella Versace with special guest Patrick Dempsey, the evening's theme, Whitney-Past, Present and Future, was a visual sensation with inspired décor that fused high fashion and contemporary art.

Beth Campbell's installation created for the Gala, greeted guests as they arrived and served as the décor inspiration for the evening conceptualized by David Stark Design. The installation reflected the evening's theme as well as Ms. Campbell's exploration of the psychological conception of one's surroundings.

As part of the Whitney sponsorship, Versace collaborated with world-renowned artists Julian Schnabel and Wangechi Mutu to create two one-of-a-kind pieces of priceless jewelry. The jewelry, produced for Versace, was on display in the lobby and auctioned along with the signed original sketches, by sealed bids coordinated by Sotheby's chairman, James G. Niven.

Additionally, Marc Quinn generously agreed to donate to The Whitney Museum of American Art, a one-of-kind piece of jewelry produced by Versace. His piece was also auctioned by sealed bids at the end of the evening along with an original sketch signed by the artist. After attending cocktails in the Robert J. Hurst Family Gallery, guests ascended to the Emily Fisher Landau Galleries for a three- course dinner catered by Glorious Food and reveled in a high energy performance by Sting in which he sang “Every Move You Make.”

Notable guests in attendance included:
Sting and Trudie Styler, Christina Ricci, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Sean Avery, artists Julian Schnabel, Wangechi Mutu, Cindy Sherman, Fred Schneider, Michael Nouri, Beth Campbell, David Salle, Tara Donovan, Carroll Dunham, Mark Fox, Rachel Howard, Charles LeDray, Whitfield Lovell, Malcolm Morley, Lari Pittman, Ugo Rondinone, Laurie Simmons, Rudolf Stingel, Lawrence Weiner, Fred Wilson and Terry Winters. Whitney director Adam Weinberg; Whitney president Neil Bluhm, Whitney co-chairmen Robert Hurst and Brooke Neidich; trustees Steven Ames, Anne Dias Griffin, Susan Hess, Warren Kanders, Leonard Lauder, Ray McGuire, Steven Mnuchin, Tom Tuft and Liz Swig. Evelyn Lauder, Charles Gwathmey and Betty Anne Gwathmey, Audrey Gruss and Martin Gruss, Amanda Burden, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Julie Macklowe and Billy Macklowe, Heather Mnuchin, Mary Boone, Marvin Hamlisch, Campion Platt and Tatiana Platt, John Gutfreund and Susan Gutfreund, Frederic Fekkai and Shirin Fekkai, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, Jane Holzer, Sari Gueron and Bonnie Morrison.

The Studio Party, hosted by Matthew Brannon, Martin Dawson, Amanda Hearst, Barbara and Andrew Mandell, Leighton Meester, Dalia Oberlander, Christina Ricci, Alexandra Richards, Arden Wohl and the Whitney Artists Council began at 9pm and DJ Cassidy entertained the vibrant crowd that danced the night away and enjoyed a special performance by Nick Cannon. Guest indulged in Ketel One Sugar-Plumtinis and Ketel One Chocolate Martinis specially created for the Studio Party. Notable guests in attendance included: Byrdie Bell, Kipton Cronkite, Lydia Fenet, Zani Gugelmann, Behnaz Sarafpour, Gilles Mendel, Poppy Delevigne, Jane Krakowski, Katie Lee Joel, Kiera Chaplin, Juliette Lewis, Emma Roberts, Helena Christensen, Rose Bryne, Harry Josh, Lee Lee Sobieski, Becki Newton and Hannah Soukupova.

The Whitney's annual Gala supports the Museum's ongoing exhibition and educational programming. The Gala is the most visible and prominent of the Museum's fundraising efforts, providing the essential funds needed to support the latest achievements of emerging artists as well as American masters.