Over a week ago a dear friend by the name of Dian Hansen contacted me. I haven’t heard from her for a while and haven’t seen her since the book signing for the 3-D version of “The Big Book of Breasts” that she so graciously had me do the cover photo for several years ago with the photographer Ed Fox. Dian is an editor and writer and knower of all people who are creative and wonderful and works for Taschen and so she calls me and says she has been contacted by Richard Prince who wants to photograph me. “Are you kidding?”, I ask. “THE Richard Prince. the world famous artist? ” and she replies “yes”. I come to find out that he has been trying to track me down for a few years but Dian was unaware of the person he was describing. So low and behold she sets up the appointment for us to meet.
I very excitedly and nervously drive up to Beverly Hills to meet the two of them for lunch at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel. We meet and he is open and funny and makes me feel so comfortable. We go up to his suite and take a few photos and it all felt like a dream. Richard Prince then invites me to his art opening at the Gagosian gallery and asks if I would also like to attend the private dinner at Mr. Chow’s afterwards and invites my husband as well. “Uh, yes” is what I could barely get out of my lips. In my mind I’m thinking “hell fucking yes I want to go to the gallery, I fucking love art and I have been a fan of yours for quite some time and I am so stoked you are including me in with your personal guests. The answer is a definite YES!”
OK, so this takes place on Tuesday and the gallery opening is on Thursday. Ryan and I drive up, we have a glass of wine and some appies at Villa Blanca and then head over to the gallery. The show is great. The gallery is packed. We first came across Pamela Anderson and then there is just a barrage of celebrity attendees and as the night continues, the level of celebrity increases exponentially with time. Just to get an idea, check out the world famous photographer Terry Richardson’s blog and you’ll get my drift. Me not being a world famous photographer and friend to all these people I found it not a good move to get out my camera so I’ll let his work speak for me, so to speak.
We then all meet up at the gallery and stroll down to Mr. Chow’s but not before being stopped by Tommy Lee Jones who stops and talks with Richard and then we enter the restaurant where Richard introduces me to John Waters who of course I am a huge fan of and I go to take my seat and I find out that Ryan and I are sitting at Richard’s table. Vera Wang was there and I had a better seat than her. Later that night Sir Elton John comes over to the table and it was a slew of who is who is the art and entertainment world the entire evening.
Meanwhile, I’m never been one to be star struck. That wasn’t the highlight of the night. It was the kindness and generosity and the new friendship I was able to experience in meeting Richard Prince and him including me in such a special occasion. The other celebs were merely icing on the cake. The best was just sitting and talking at lunch on that Tuesday and shooting with him afterwards.
But that’s what has been going on in my life. Pretty fun.
