Venice - Palazzo Hopping

Palazzo Grassi - The 2007 Gucci Group Award. And the winner is; Julian Schnabel. The American visual artist was honored for his direction of Le Scaphandre et le Papillion or The Driving Bell and the Butterfly, which also won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. Upon receiving the award Schnabel said “Painting can be compared to life, but is about optimism and faith. Artistic expression is the embodiment of hope.” Mr. Schnabel was also present at the Venice Film Festival with the film, Lou Reed’s Berlin.

Schnabel’s Style: Low Maintenance: silk pajamas, navy Vans sneakers and a plastic Mexican carry all, used as a briefcase.
High Maintenance: the beautifully cut hand-made blue blazer, pulls the look together.

Members of the jury for the 2007 Gucci Group Award listen to the winner, Julian Schnabel’s acceptance speech. They are; actor and director, Danny Huston, actress and producer Michelle Yeoh and the editor-in-chief of the Style magazine of the New York Times, Stefano Tonchi sit next to Robert Polet, president and CEO of Gucci Group. The Gucci Group Award was established last year, it is bestowed to an internationally-acclaimed artist who has made a remarkable contribution to a film in any capacity within the past eighteen months, as a director, actor, screenwriter, set or costume designer.

The most attractive member of the jury for the 2007 Gucci Group Award was actress and producer, Michelle Yeoh.

Silvia Damiani flew to Venice just for the Gucci Group Award party, not only is Damiani Group's Vice-president beautiful, she is also creative; she co-designed with Brad Pitt the couple’s wedding bands. Gorgeous and respected Palestinian journalist and anchorwoman, Rula Jebreal has been working in Italy for many years, she was at Palazzo Grassi to support her friend Julian Schnabel.

The new director of Palazzo Grassi, Monique Veaute, succeeds Jean-Jacques Aillagon, who is now president of the Chateau de Versailles, chats with her colleague, Berard Emmanuel.

New York based actress Jennifer Missoni, yes of the Missoni clan, wearing Missoni, came to Venice for the film festival with her boyfriend, director, Tommaso Cardile. Jennifer has recently appeared in the TV series, Damages with Glen Close and you can see her in a play off Broadway, this fall, called Angry Young Women.

This group of beautiful young people made quite an entrance when they came in. In the center is Alessandro Possati, creative director of Sete-Cento. Sete-Cento transmits refinement and style in its clothes, reviving the lavish elegance lost through time. The elements in Alex’s designs are derived from the traditions and the rich heritage of Venice. “Today, through our products, we want to bring that little touch of magic that one may sense in our Palazzi, coupled with that allure of its parties and balls.” Alex explains. With Alex are, Alina Suprunoea, Kisha Omer, Irina Pasichnyk and Olimpia Possati.