Jacques Marie Mage launched its new SoHo gallery on Wooster Street Thursday with a star-studded event featuring Patti Smith, a performance, and an eclectic mix of art and luxury goods.
The SoHo Scene
As New York City gears up for summer, Jacques Marie Mage's gallery opening attracted a buzzing crowd to SoHo. The brand's three-story space, filled with chrome cabinetry and zebra-print lounge chairs, also features a wolf skull sculpture by Quentin Garel.
Guests mingled while enjoying Krug champagne, caviar-topped blinis, and Hibiki whisky, served by waiters wearing the brand's signature sunglasses. Attendees explored the gallery's collection of leather goods, jewelry, ceramics, and artifacts, with many trying on the sunglasses and consulting friends for opinions.
Beauty and Nature
“I want this space to be a reminder to pursue beauty,” said Jacques Marie Mage founder Jérôme Mage to Vogue. “Beauty is robust and individualistic, and it’s a rebellious act to push away from the norm,” he added. The gallery reflects Mage's philosophy, with its nature-inspired pieces, including a bison skull and an eagle's beak sculpture.
The opening also highlighted the brand's partnership with Yellowstone National Park. “There’s a duality between the wolf and the bison,” Mage explained. “New York City is a bit like that. You have to survive both the highs and the lows.”
Voices of the Night
Doug Smith, a wildlife biologist notable for reintroducing the gray wolf to Yellowstone in 1995, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of considering the natural world. He recited a stanza from poet Robert Service, setting the stage for the evening's final guest.
Patti Smith, a longtime collaborator with the brand, performed three songs, including People Have the Power and Because the Night. Guests, including Grace Gummer and Mark Ronson, were captivated, singing along to Smith’s performance.
Memorable Finale
Smith's declaration that “the night belongs to New York” was met with enthusiastic applause. “My collaboration with Jacques Marie Mage has always been about friendship, and everyone here offered that to me tonight,” she told Vogue after her performance.
As the night concluded, guests departed with Jacques Marie Mage goodie bags, containing a coffee table book by the sculptor, allowing them to take a piece of the gallery home. The event ended with attendees spilling onto Wooster Street, glasses in hand, a fitting close to an evening celebrating art, beauty, and community.
Source: https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/jacques-marie-mage-soho-new-york
