On Tuesday night, I answered an irresistable invitation from Architectural Digest Editor-in-Chief Margaret Russell to attend an event called "Acria Unframed", and today you, too can attend this fun art event online for a great cause. Now in its second year, "Unframed" is an annual art sale to support ACRIA (AIDS Community Research Initiaive of America). Each year participating artists create pieces specifically for the event with all proceeds going directly to ACRIA. The sale, with a collection of this year's and the previous year's pieces, has gone up online at American Express's new private sale site Vente Privee. Shop now, though, because things like the conceptual artist Geoff Hargadon's CFYW Higher Prices 12" x 18" limited edition (30) screen print on corrugated plastic, below, are going fast! 

The late Herb Ritts also has a piece in the sale, Duo VII, in the "Special Works" section. It is a 25" x 20" Platinum Palladium print edition 19/25 with three artist proofs, and in spite of the event's name, this item comes framed. 

Margaret Russel for the twenty-something year's I've known her has been a committed, diligent supporter of AIDS nonprofits, and also the charming hostess of very classy parties in very classy places that make me glad to be alive and well in the greatest city in the world. A crowd of happy art collectors, editors, interior designers ( I spied, among others Amy Lau, Vicente Wolf and David Kleinberg) and design industry elite  got to wander around two Penthouse apartments in the new Setai Residences in midtown Manhattan, delighting in both the art and the breathtaking views from the 60th floor as the sun set over our town. Nobody, including me, was too shy to snap a few Instagram's out the windows. Can you blame us? Shop ACRIA Unframed through Sunday, June 10.

 Art Photos courtesy of Vente Privee.