Selita Ebanks shines light on Costa Verde International School, Sierra Leone, & holiday giving, supermodel-style!

Selita Ebanks poses with artwork up for auction to benefit Sayulita, Mexico's Costa Verde International School.

She’s graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, strutted her stuff in some pretty fantastic lingerie, and she ran away with Kanye’s video—the girl even makes getting fired look good! But Selita Ebanks is more than just a supermodel—she’s also a superstar philanthropist.

Thursday night in the West Village, Ebanks was out to support the Costa Verde International School, a “green school” in Sayulita, Mexico, co-founded by Ebanks’s friend, photographer Anne Menke. CVIS aims to provide the Sayulita community with progressive education focused on environmental sustainability and responsibility in Mexico—a lofty goal to achieve with limited resources. Ebanks—looking cozy in a wooly DVF vest over her Rebecca Taylor frock—hosted the 401 Green Photography & Fashion Auction, where everything from Menke’s photos to a Mexican getaway were up for bid, with proceeds benefitting CVIS.

 Having collaborated with Menke throughout her modeling career, Ebanks was happy to shine some light—and funding—on CVIS. “[Menke’s] children go there, and it’s free admission for all the local kids. It’s such an amazing thing, to bring children from all walks of life together,” the Caymanian beauty told Videofashion. “I just had to help her.”

The curriculum at CVIS stresses community involvement—something instilled in Ebanks and her seven brothers (s-e-v-e-n!) since childhood. “It was really important to my Mom to allow us to see the world and reality. We didn’t wear rose-colored shades,” Selita told Videofashion. “We knew where our Thanksgiving turkey was coming from, so we would volunteer for Thanksgiving for the homeless, we would wrap presents for other kids.” Ebanks continues to make giving back a priority. “Community work and being aware of your surroundings is very important,” she added.

While guests sipped Gran Centenario Tequila cocktails and enjoyed music by Lovely Liar, Ebanks filled us in on another charity dear to her heart. “Shine on Sierra Leone is an organization I started working with three years ago,” Ebanks told Videofashion. The group, dedicated to lowering child mortality in the tiny, war-torn West African nation, is finally ready to open Sierra Leone’s very first maternity hospital! Ebanks couldn’t be more proud. “The team is going down on November 20, and there’s going to be a big ceremony. We are really humbled by it,” said Ebanks. “It’s just our first hospital, and I’m going to continue to work hard!” she added.

When Selita isn’t working, she still keeps busy doing good. This year for Thanksgiving, the supermodel is headed to Georgia, where she’ll be whipping up some southern hospitality in mom’s kitchen. “I’m cooking!” she emphasized. “It’s like a six-course meal she’s requested! She’s gonna put her feet up and be Mommy.” (awww …)

As for Christmas, Ebanks is sans wish list. “I’ve had a really successful year, especially with my philanthropy, so I’m happy,” she shared. Her holiday shopping list is also short and sweet. “I don’t really give gifts; I make donations to UNICEF in people’s names,” said the benevolent beauty. A supermodel-approved time-saving and life-saving present? That’s a gift that really keeps on giving!

An Exhibition in Access: new site extends reach of contemporary art

Laura Martin, Gabby Munoz, Cynthia Rowley, and Bill Powers

The Gagosian’s uptown outpost was the hub of artistic celebration and seasonal merriment last night, as the launch of contemporary art website ExhibitionA.com got underway on Madison Avenue. The brainchild of Half Gallery owner Bill Powers and New York fashion design icon Cynthia Rowley, and co-founded by Laura Martin and Gabby Munoz, Exhibition A provides contemporary artists a distinctive online portal to promote and sell their work, while offering collectors—from experienced buyers to budding aficionados—a chance to purchase limited-release creations at very reasonable price points. “The mantra of my company is to make great design more accessible,” Cynthia Rowley told Videofashion. “Exhibition A is a way to do that with contemporary art.”

Starting today, Exhibition A will feature a new work from a unique contemporary artist each week. Works will be sold in an open edition/limited release system during a period of two to four weeks, making purchases all the more exclusive and enticing to collectors. “More and more artists are enjoying the opportunity to be more commercial with some of their work and to reach a broader audience,” said Rowley. Launching in tandem with the December gifting blitz, Exhibition A beckons online holiday shoppers. “Art is inspiring and thoughtful—it’s the best gift you could ever give!” said Rowley.

Prints available on the site will range from $100 to $500—quite the deal for a work by planned Exhibition A artists like Aleksandra Mir, Ry Fyan, Terence Koh, and David LaChapelle, among others. Swedish born Hanna Liden is the site’s debut artist, and Rowley couldn’t be more excited about the Parsons graduate. “Hanna is young, but she has a great following,” said Rowley. “We absolutely love her work.”

Braving the frigid outdoors to show support, Liden was joined by a throng of fellow artists; Mark Borthwick, Julia Chiang, Duncan Hannah, Brad Kahlhamer, Josephine Meckseper, Richard Phillips, Rene Ricard, and Les Rogers were all in attendance. Also among the artistically inclined crowd: Waris Ahluwalia, Lisa Anastos, James Frey, Andy Spade, and Jacqueline Schnabel.

Before checking out displayed works from upcoming Exhibition A artists, we naturally had to pick Rowley’s brain about fast-approaching New York Fashion Week! (Autumn/Winter 2011: 64 days to go!) “Last season was very clean, modern, and graphic, so think about that in a Royal Tenenbaums way,” she said of her impending February runway. In the spirit of the evening, Rowley also hinted at a unique collaboration with a current artist. “I’m going to work with an artist on the show, but not for the clothes or sets,” she shared. (Hmmm … Wes Anderson?!)

You’ll have to wait until February to see Ms. Rowley’s work on the Lincoln Center stage, but for an instant art fix, become a member of ExhibitionA.com today!

 

Hanna Liden and Eneas Capalbo

Richard Phillips

Rene Ricard

Andy Spade and Bill Powers