Al Hirschfeld Celeb Drawings Go 3D on 5th Ave
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Image by Dorri Olds
Henri Bendel’s holiday window on Fifth Avenue and 56th Street in Manhattan was revealed November 14. It is a bursting celebration of the great Al Hirschfeld and his long life (1903–2003) creating celebrity drawings with his daughter’s name, Nina, hidden within the lines of hair and fabric folds.
The twist is you’ve never seen these line drawings in 3D sculpture before. Henri Bendel worked together with Hirschfeld’s gallery, Margo Feiden Galleries, to create the exhibit. The parade of artworks were hand sculpted by Tom Carroll Scenery, along with art direction by Gilberto Santana.
“Seinfeld” star Jerry Stiller was the official master of ceremonies as the window was revealed. On his arm was Margo Feiden and behind them sat 3D sculptures of Hirschfeld’s famous Stiller drawing, and many more including Whoopi Goldberg, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Woody Allen, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jerry Stiller, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing and Al Hirschfeld himself, whose sculpted likeness is seated in his famous barber’s chair at his drawing desk with art pen in hand.
Inside the store, walls of drawings are stacked two stories up to the ceiling. Elvis is there, Bob Hope, Mick and Keith, and more. Charlie Chaplin in 3D sits perched in a lush sculptured tree looking down upon the ooh’ing and ah’ing crowd. Fifteen Swarovski chandeliers sparkled from their branches as wine and chocolate were served below to the guests.
Following the window reveal, everyone was invited to shop for a cause. Ten percent of the proceeds from sales benefited The Actors Funds’ Al Hirschfeld Free Clinic and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The Henri Bendel dolled up window will be up until January 2, 2014.
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