“I believe that we are at a very important moment for women,” said Art of Elysium founder Jennifer Howell at the organization’s annual Heaven gala. “The change from a patriarchal rule to a true balance between feminine and masculine is in process. Standing here now and observing this massive transformation is awe-inspiring.” This year’s annual celebration brought out the likes of Amber Heard, Chrissy Teigen, Rooney Mara, and Shailene Woodley to celebrate the Hollywood organization’s commitment to artists and actors using their talents to engage the community of Los Angeles.
This year’s version of Heaven was the vision of John Legend, who was honored at the annual fete. Titled Love, Light, and Laughter, it started by having guests wandering through a dimly lit cocktail hour, roaming through the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica surrounding a glowing square of ominous light (perfectly calculated for ideal selfie lighting, of course). Legend brought together poets, musicians, and comedians to provide the evening’s entertainment, paired perfectly with a family-style meal created by Los Angeles–based chef duo Schaffer. The evening concluded in a performance by Legend that brought the crowd to their feet surrounding the stage. “I am so grateful to my wife for being here,” said Legend as he received the Visionary honor. “I think being a father helps me understand even more how fragile life can be sometimes, and how much it is imperative for us who have so many resources and have so much power to try to make other kids’ lives better.”