W MAGAZINE – Decorative Arts

W Magazine — December 1, 2002

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For its first fundraiser on December 3, RxArt, a two-year-old organization that places contemporary art in  the parts of New York hospitals that are reserved for patients, came up with a creative challenge for fashion designers, celebrities and artists.

Diane Brown, its executive director, sent them boxes containing a plain Styrofoam ball, a metal hook and the assignment to create a holiday ornament for its auction. “We thought they could use this as a jumping-off point.” Brown said, “but we had the most unbelievable response.”

More than 100 ornaments were returned from artists including Louise Bourgeois, William Wegman, Tom Sachs and Lisa Greefield-Sanders and will be displayed for bidding at the Barneys New York Wooster Street store beginning November 20. Yoko Ono drew hearts and wrote “Imagine” and “Peace” on hers, Simon Doonan wrapped a silver ball in spiked leather collars and Martin Puryear created a sculpture of a hand. Others were more personal: Sarah Jessica Parker simply went to her closet and sent back a red Manolo, with her signature stenciled in glitter.