Liv Tyler, Robot, Mariah Carey, Russell Simmons, Hamptons

Liv Tyler, actress and daughter of Aerosmiths Steven Tyler, doesnt like flat television screens.

Everyone looks short and wide, Tyler said Friday in the pebbled courtyard of Jerry Della Feminas oceanfront home in East Hampton, New York. Im sad I got rid of my box TV with the knobs and dials. That one I could have taught my kid how to use. It had an on/off button. I guess Im old-fashioned.

Wearing a black Givenchy cocktail dress with ribbons and zippers, Tyler joined Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon and James Marsden for a party and screening of their film Robot & Frank, in theaters in August.

The party was organized by the Cinema Society and sponsored by Rent the Runway Inc., founded by Harvard Business School classmates Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss. Waiters served an Italian supper and spread out blankets on the grass for guests watching the movie. The actors sat on sofas around the pool.

The film is set in the near future. TV screens are very thin, libraries are bookless, and robots are health-care aides who cook, clean, garden -- and pick locks.

Another robot turned up Saturday night at The Big Bang, a benefit for the Watermill Center, Robert Wilsons artists compound in Watermill, New York.

This one steals from a grocery store and gets a lap dance, in a video shown on a big, boxy television set.

Avatar is a critique of technology, said the videos maker, artist Tucker Marder. The awkward, almost handicapping effect of the puppet mirrors many of the negative effects of things like Facebook and video chatting.

At Watermill Center, the artworks included a man wit! h a soccer-ball head moving back and forth between nets, a woman rolling around in the dirt, and breast and penis sculptures.

The Rush Philanthropic Art Foundations Art for Life benefit was just as colorful in a more mass-appeal way. Mariah Carey was honored, and Anita Baker, Salt-N-Pepa and Diggy Simmons, son of Reverend Run, performed. Balloon octopuses and starfish hung from the ceiling.

In these settings, there was optimism about the future.

Hopefully it will be bright, said Russell Simmons, impresario of the Art for Life benefit, which took place at his East Hampton home. The economy is going to go up and well find new ways to feed the hungry.

Robots and repair, said Kyle DeWoody, co-founder of the retailer Grey Area.

For now, though, there are big, flashy benefits to revel in, as well as books -- Zosia Mamet of HBOs Girls said she is reading Moby-Dick -- and sunsets.

Sarandon and Langella watched a beautiful one while they sat on a bale of hay on the beach.

(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)

To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.

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'Robot & Frank'

'Robot & Frank'

James Marsden, Liv Tyler and Frank Langella, stars of 'Robot & Frank.'

James Marsden, Liv Tyler and Frank Langella, stars of 'Robot & Frank.' Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image 'Robot & Frank'

'Robot & Frank'

'Robot & Frank'

Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, co-founders of Rent the Runway Inc.

Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, co-founders of Rent the Runway Inc. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image 'Robot & Frank'

'Robot & Frank'

'Robot & Frank'

Set up for the poolside screening.

Set up for the poolside screening. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image 'Robot & Frank'!

'Robot & Frank'

'Robot & Frank'

Looking at the party proceedings from the beach.

Looking at the party proceedings from the beach. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Guests arrive at the Watermill Center benefit.

Guests arrive at the Watermill Center benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Misaki Kawai's "Big Bubbles" on the facade of the Watermill Center main building.

Misaki Kawai's "Big Bubbles" on the facade of the Watermill Center main building. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Misaki Kawai's "Dog" in the Watermill Center forest.

Misaki Kawai's "Dog" in the Watermill Center forest. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill Center

The courtyard filled with guests as artist Kembra Pfahler and the Volutuous Horror of Karen Black performed.

The courtyard filled with guests as artist Kembra Pfahler and the Volutuous Horror of Karen Black performed. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill Center

"Everyone is taking what Mother Nature gave us," Meredith Melling Burke, far right, senior market editor at Vogue, said, before posing with Karen Duffy, a fashion marketer, and Roopal Patel, a fashion consultant.

"Everyone is taking what Mother Nature gave us," Meredith Melling Burke, far right, senior market editor at Vogue, said, before posing with Karen Duffy, a fashio! n markete! r, and Roopal Patel, a fashion consultant. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Kyle DeWoody, co-founder and creative director of Grey Area.

Kyle DeWoody, co-founder and creative director of Grey Area. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea, an art director, in Mary Katranzou. Of the future, she said, "Besides iPhones incorporated into our bodies? In 10 years I want to be in Argentina on a farm."

Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea, an art director, in Mary Katranzou. Of the future, she said, "Besides iPhones incorporated into our bodies? In 10 years I want to be in Argentina on a farm." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Watermill Center

Watermill Center

Watermill !   Center

Rain did not stop the service of wine at the event.

Rain did not stop the service of wine at the event. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

The scene in the party tent set up on Russell Simmons's lawn.

The scene in the party tent set up on Russell Simmons's lawn. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Record producer Babyface and L.A. Reid, CEO, Epic Records.

Record producer Babyface and L.A. Reid, CEO, Epic Records. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Enlarge image Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Diggy Simmons performed his hip-hop music at the Art for Life benefit.

Diggy Simmons performed his hip-hop music at the Art for Life benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg


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