El Museo del Barrio Honors Mario Testino

El Museo's annual gala morphed into a fashion pow-wow for 2011. The culprit was the night's guest of honor, superstar photographer Mario Testino. The international fashion world tuned out in full force to support Testino who was presented with a lifetime artistic achievement award celebrating his 30-year career. Yaz and Valentin Hernandez chaired the glamorous soiree with Alex Gonzalez and Raul Martinez of advertising agency AR New York and raised $1,000,000 for the museum.

In front of 600 guests, actress Kate Winslet presented Testino with an Asprey of London sterling silver tray that was created especially for the occasion and is engraved with the signatures of 35 of his dearest friends from the fashion world. The signatures include fashion designers Christopher Bailey, Donatella Versace, Oscar de la Renta and Francisco Costa among others, top models and celebrities such as Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell and Julia Roberts and more, as well as magazine royalty such as his longtime collaborator Carine Roitfeld, British Vogue's Alexandra Shulman and of course, Anna Wintour and members of the inner sanctum at American Vogue.

In her speech, Winslet said,"Mario sees people for who they really are and creates the perfect working atmosphere. He's the person who can say 'It's beautiful but it would look better naked.' How can one refuse? It's all about trust."

For his part, Mr. Testino said, "It's incredible to be here tonight. There's a saying that you're never a prophet in you own land and getting an award from El Museo del Barrio is a very special thing for me because at the end of the day it's like saying maybe I am a prophet in my own land in the sense that I am being recognized by my own community. I'd like to thank the committee of El Museo; Alex Gonzalez because I know it was your idea. In my profession I would love to say it's all about me but it isn't. It's all about whom you work with. You're only as good as your editor, your hairstylist, your make-up artist, model or actress, and your editor in chief that understands what you are going to give them. Years ago I was given a plaque in Los Angeles at the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Awards and Anna Wintour gave me a party. I said to her that there was this ad on the buses in New York. It said, 'Before you are in fashion you are in Vogue.' And I have to say before I was in fashion, I was in Vogue because she decided I was a good photographer. Many people did not agree with her and it's taken me thirty years to prove to them that there was something good in my work. I'd like to thank all those editors that have spent years teaching me and nurturing me."