Alexander Hankin reports from inside the Aspen Art Museum’s Slopeside Soirée
I’ve co-chairing the Aspen Art Museum‘s winter benefit, now known as the Slopeside Soirée, since 2017. After months of meticulous planning, the big day arrived.
The day before the event, my co-chairs, Makenzie Moon Phelan and Sterling McDavid, and I host a kickoff lunch at Casa Tua with Moncler. And afterward, we visit the Moncler store to select our outfits.
As I stand on the third floor of the museum in my black moto-ski Moncler jacket, I pause a moment and admire the setup for what promises to be the season’s most memorable evenings.
The theme is “Aurora Borealis.” 300 of us are treated to music by Grammy winning DJ and producer Cedric Gervais, with an opening set by DJ Natti. The altitude is sky-high, and the atmosphere is electric: the Aspen Mountain backdrop, clinking champagne glasses and mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres and thematic desserts by Rayo Events who fly everything in from Atlanta that morning.
Many of my friends had turn up like Tom Feder, Joey Spieczny, Ryan Jensen and Lauren Alday. Nick Hisson and Kameron Ramirez, who just opened the Wynn Fine Art gallery across the street, come decked in Moncler, bien-sûr. As always, Erica Jackowitz and Roman Chiporukaare the first ones on the dance floor. Also there: Fraser Olender, Brooks Marks, Michael Orcutt, Thomas Pierce, Victoria Brito, Cathy Guetta, and Sailor Brinkley-Cook. And the exhibitions on display! Everyone needs to see Heji Shin’s “America: Part One” and “ugo rondinone: the rainbow body.”
Makenzie Sterling and I make a few remarks. I thank Nicola Lees, our brilliant director and our sponsors Moncler, Chase Sapphire Reserve, along with The Snow Lodge, Pearl Street Caviar, Kemo Sabe and Lalo Spirits. The proceeds from the evening directly support the Aspen Art Museum’s educational initiatives. I’m especially excited about the upcoming Youth Art Expo 2025: Architecture & Imagination, which invites over 1,000 K-12 students to unleash their creativity without limits. Their artwork will be showcased for the entire community from April 16 to May 18, 2025.
