Jennifer Connelly & Paul Bettany Are Honored At The 20th Annual Artwalk Auction

After 2 hours of cocktails and silent bidding, the guests ushered their way into the auditorium, where the live auction was set to take place. Eleven pieces were on display, including works by Cindy Sherman, Louise Bourgeois, and Roxy Paine. Before the bidding started, Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly gave a short speech about their experience with a homeless couple who lived by their apartment. Bettany poignantly described how over time they simply became part of the landscape, and after Hurricane Sandy hit he never saw them again. As a writer and producer, the best way he could contribute to raising awareness of the very real struggle was to make a film about it, which stars Connelly. His story brought a few more hands in the air during the auction, with a self-portrait of Chuck Close going for $18k and a glass whoopee cushion by Dan Colen going for over $20k. The final item was a coveted Ed Ruscha painting, and despite its small size it sold for a whopping $40k, ending the charitable evening with a bang. [Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly]