BOMB’s editor Betsy Sussler gave her opening remarks before welcoming Patti Smith to the stage in a suit and tie to hand out the evenings first award, a pink bomb, to MoMa’s Chief Curator at Large, Klaus Biesenbach.   “If you are applauding my glasses, they are from Germany,” she began with a nod to his heritage, before kidding “I actually thought Chief Curator at Large was a private joke but it seems that it actually is something. Not sure what ‘at large’ means but knowing Klaus, it must be somewhat mysterious.”

Biesenbach took the stage keeping Smith near him. “I am superstitious you should never write down a speech,” he said clutching her arm and giving thanks around the room.

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