March 3, 2010 - Tuesday night, KiptonART kicked off Armory Arts Week 2010 downtown-style at The Box with featured headliner Paula Valstein.

A packed house of Upper East Siders, downtown hipsters and heavy weight art patrons like; William T. Hillman, SFMoMA's David Ross, Terrence Meck, Marlborough Chelsea's Melyora Kramer, Christopher Canizares, PS1's Tim Goossens and artists David LaChapelle, Nir Hod and Izhar Patkin, filled the intimate performance club to capacity.

Upon arrival, guests witnessed warm-up performances by drag-comedian Brandon Olson and male stand-up Kim Smith.

At midnight, Paula Valstein rocketed to the stage performing four of her own songs including favorites "My My" and "Do You Know", leaving the packed house teary-eyed and screaming for more.

Born in Tel Aviv, Valstein started playing the piano at age 4 and has been obsessed with writing songs ever since. "New York was always a dream of mine, and so, one day I just bought a ticket and came," says an exuberant Valstein. This positive attitude resonates well with KiptonART who has built a cult following since 2005 and held over 40 events supporting emerging artists and musicians. "Our kick-off party for Armory Arts Week featuring Paula celebrated a milestone for our organization and deepened our commitment to raise funds through the 501©3 KiptonART Foundation founded last year," states Founder, Kipton Cronkite.

SEEN: Real Estate scion Michael Shvo, designer Rafael Cennamo, OUT's Aaron Hicklin, Elisabeth Saint-Amand, Whitewall's Michael Klug, Greg Calejo, Dalia Oberlander, Sarah Basile, Bianca Kawecki, Anastasia Rogers, Diane Pernet, Scott Buccheit and Quest's Daniel Cappello joined event hosts Patrick Duffy, Thomas Rom, Paper Mag's Peter Davis, Gregory Dufner, Affirmation Art's Marla Goldwasser, Brian Gorman, Francesca Hammerstein, Daniel Heighes Wismer, Jack Kirkland, Marcia Levine, Karline Moeller and James Salomo.

VIPs received a KiptonART Sampler CD containing three singles; featuring headliner one single by Paula Valstein, one track by 22-year-old jazz sensation, Eldar, and the third by Edwin Vazquez (who mixes a fusion of rumba, flamenco, bolero and bassanova).

To read KiptonART insider scoop on Paula Valstein, please click HERE

What has 2009 brought us? KiptonART explored not only the business of emerging artists, but the entire creative market encompassing art, music, fashion, film and soirées. 2009 -- the year of change -- has prepared art mavens for the coming decade. Reflecting on the seasons past here are influential events that are sure to impact the coming year(s) ahead.  Let the countdown begin!

#10. Let us get the dreaded term out of the way: recession. The weed that spewed from our credit fertilizer haunted the globe thereby weakening an already challenged art arena. As third quarter trudged around the market gradually rallied amidst the buzz surrounding the early November Sotheby’s New York auction of an Andy Warhol painting, sold at $43.8 million.

However, morale was low due to a failed auction held at New York’s Christie’s the same week. This may have left a dark cloud brooding over art auctions had it not been for $48 million dollar sale of a drawing by the old master Raphael at Christie’s London in early December.

#9. Early December opened with Art Basel in Miami. The lack of sun and party funds left the majority of attendees interested in only one thing, the fairs which fared far better than last year. High sales made gallery representatives giddy, while on-lookers enjoyed works by international talents. Much on displayed felt familiar and sellers were fixated on those that they knew would bring in cash flow. In this economy, why not? Though events were at a minimum, KiptonART hosted an event with Whitewall Magazine and attended parties and events over the four day fair including a highlight of the Lanvin boutique opening.  In November, Art Dubai drew significant crowds and attention.

#8. Parties elsewhere seemed to have been doing just fine this year (though there was a definite lack of food trays circulating). KiptonART threw several with partners such as Longchamp and Saks Fifth Avenue and even debuted on MTV. The Coalition for the Homeless held their annual ArtWalk Benefit raising $650,000, their most successful event to date. Patrons attended all the major museum galas from the Metropolitan Costume Institute to the Frick Young Fellows. However, the Whitney Studio Party was said to have been the best of them all, where A-list New York supporters wore sponsored Versace gowns to the nines.

#7. Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Week set the standards for a new era: digital prints, nude hues, and underwear-as-outwear. Chado Ralph Rucci gave the show of New York’s season with a flawless presentation.  Finally be rid of the dirty indie look and step into fantastic crab claw Alexander McQueen heels, as Mrs. Gaga did in her epic video “Bad Romance.”

#6. Undoubtedly, Lady Gaga is this year top musician, bringing glam rock gender bending aesthetic backs from the trendy 80’s grave of on stage Madonna masturbation and Freddy Mercury. Opposite, of Gaga is the baby-face Taylor Swift who swiftly swept up the awards at every ceremony she attended (and didn’t for that matter as she won several AMA’s while preparing for an upcoming tour in London). KiptonART continued to collaborate with emerging musicians Joyce DiDonato, Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, Eldar and Orba Squara. Most heartbreaking was the loss of music legend and pop king Michael Jackson.

To Read The Top 5, please visit KiptonART Online Magazine

Photo 1: Kipton Cronkite attends the 2009 Whitney Museum Gala at The Whitney Museum of American Art on October 19, 2009 in New York City. (October 18, 2009- Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images North America)

Photo 2: Aqua Art Miami Basel entrance

Photo 3: Chado Ralph Rucci's incredible Spring/Summer 2010 collection

This past Thursday at the Bowery Hotel, I joined a trendsetting young crowd of artists, doctors, designers, socials, and gallerists, for the Third Annual Art Rocks! New York Benefit. The evening featured 14 emerging artists, cocktails, dancing, and a silent art auction curated by Emmett Shine & James Cruickshank of LOLA New York, to benefit the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at the Columbia University Medical Center.

I parked myself in some prime real estate at the bar, to take in the scene of the stunning crowd. As I was ascertaining a notion of who was in attendance and why, I spotted a gentlemen in a dapper navy and white pin-stripped sport coat with a navy trimmed lapel. Obvi, I had to compliment him and we got to chatting. I discovered that he, Simon Hanft, M.D., a neurosurgery resident at Department of Neurological Surgery Neurological Institute, and his documentary filmmaker friend, Terry Sacchi, were newbies to the scene and aspiring philanthropists. Well, they couldn't have picked a better introductory benefit event then AR!NY.

Impressed by the talent that filled the 2nd floor ballroom, Dr. Hanft inquired what brought this particular crowd to an event such as AR!NY. My response? Fashion.

Being that this event features up and coming artists, by the very nature of the foundation, women utilize this event to showcase their avant-garde style sense and give back to a great cause.

Art Rocks! was founded for the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at the Columbia Medical Center with the mission to raise money and awareness for the cure and care of diabetes through introducing young, emerging artists to younger generations in the New York Metropolitan area.

Shortly after a bit more discussion about the organization and fundraising in general, we met a gentlemen who is a direct recipient of the evening's efforts. Diagnosed with diabetes as a child, he has been a long time patient at the Berrie Center and successfully managing his disease. With the Center's "Total Diabetes Care", patients are have access to a range of health specialists including; endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, surgeons, podiatrists, nurse educators, nutritionists and exercise physiologists.

Following those interactions and a final survey of the art, I deemed the Third Annual Art Rocks! New York Benefit an exceptional success.

SEEN: Kipton Cronkite, Maggie Rizer, Micah Jesse, John Whitledge of Travolta, and Yoni Goldberg.

Featured Artists: Tim Barber, Andy Coolquitt, Richie Cox, Leo Fitzpatrick, Stephen Irwinm Michael Koehler, Andrew Kup, Brendan Lynch, Thomas McDonnell, Patrick Mcelena, Leigh Ruple, Natalie Shook, Lucien Smith, and Eva Zuckerman.

*photo 1 courtesy of WireImage by Jerritt Clark: DJ Berrie and Nicole Berrie

*photo 2 and 3 courtesy of I Think Youre Swell