Mr. Friedman (center) with Mad. Sq. Art's Debbie Landau and David Berliner. Photo by Ben Gabbe/BFAnyc.com (Courtesy Fitz & Co.)

Last week's Mad. Sq. Art benefit honoring Martin Friedman, a long-time director at the Walker Art Center and consultant on the public art projects in Madison Square Park, attracted about 300 guests, with more than a few art icons—John Baldessari, Chuck Close, Christo, David Hockney, Frank Stella and Mark di Suvero among them. Philip Glass performed Metamorphosis No. 2. Mr. Baldessari was...really tall.

Most impressive, though, was the $1 million in proceeds raised for the newly established Martin Friedman Fund, which will create permanent support for Mad. Sq. Art as well as help set up the Martin Friedman Curator position.

Madison Square Park has been the site of public installations by artists like Jessica Stockholder, William Wegman, Sol LeWitt, Mr. di Suvero and, most recently, Charles Long, whose "Pet Sounds" show will be on view in the park through Sept. 2.