André Joseph Grill
Loft nights inspired several works of art, some of which are here. Whenever my father was in New York he attended the parties and enjoyed the attention he received from pretty young women and flirtatious drag queens who found him adorable.
A number of his Loft paintings can be seen on this site.
Nights at the Loft
Scenes from the Party
The Loft Staff Before a Thanksgiving Party, 1979
Everyone dressed as an Indian except David who was dressed as a pilgrim.
We gathered to pose at the table laden with a traditional feast. Right after the photo was taken the doors were opened for the eager crowd waiting outside in the cold. It was a free party and the crowd was very large. They quickly devoured all the food leaving not a morsel for the staff.
Penelope (Penny) Grill
Paintings of the Loft
Penelope (Penny) Grill, also an artist, is remembered by many as the "lady in the antique teller's booth" at the Loft Party. Here you can see some rare works of art that document the spirit and madness recalling those wild nights at the Loft.
When I lived at 99 Prince Street, in SoHo, I worked at the Loft party, which was downstairs on the first floor and basement of the building. I was the cashier and reception/reservationist. I collected the contributions from hundreds of party goers every Saturday night for years. The doors opened at midnight and the weekly celebration lasted well into the late afternoon the next day. The crowd was a diverse mix of the New York after-hours dance subculture. Watching the dynamics of the dance floor and refreshment areas was fascinating. The dancing was the best and the music and atmosphere electrifying, far beyond what any other party in town offered. The dancing continued for many hours after I went home. I was lulled to sleep by the thumping disco beat which traveled up the back of building through air conditioning ducts and through the structural walls of the building. Later, when I awoke, the floors were still vibrating as the party continued four floors below me. When I stepped outside, blinking in the brilliant afternoon sun, on my way to get something at the bodega, I saw party folks leaving the dance, still gyrating to the beat, as they headed up the street to the trains back to Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Uptown or walking to the East side.
"Around the Punchbowl at David Mancuso's Loft Party"
oil on stretched canvas by Penelope (Penny) Grill
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"The Greatest Dancer"
pastel by Penelope (Penny) Grill
These people were all inspired by real Loft partiers. The couple at center is dancing an elegant and showy hustle. He's popular with the girls because he's the greatest dancer. They all wanted to take a spin around the dance floor with him. Behind them a dancer is wearing white baggy drawstring germ-warfare pants and Chinese slippers, a style favored by the most serious Loft dancers. Farther back on the dance floor a famous DJ from a competing dance club, is wearing flowing red garb and twirling in a frenzy to the music, while back at his club's turntables, a wanna-be dj spins for him.
pastel by Penelope (Penny) Grill
The two men in the foreground and the woman standing farther back but between them are record promoters and producers they have come to the dance not only to party but also conduct business and ultimately pass their new records to David Mancuso with hopes that he will play them at the party. The man on the left is Steve (Stefano) D'Aquisto who was an on-again/off-again friend/foe of David for many years. Behind him the man wearing glasses is Vince Aletti, who was a music critic and hardly ever missed a party. David Mancuso, legendary party host and musical presenter, holds court at the turntables(wearing blue shirt) in the right background. He is surrounded by onlooker wanna be dj's. Four figures sit on oversized cushions in front of David's booth. The man in blue jeans enjoys being surrounded by three women who each believe they are the only one. The psychedelic paintings were all painted by Penelope and decorated the Loft walls.
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