Above: Work by artist Dan Colen, illustrators  Isabel and Ruben Toledo, Colin Firth, David Schwimmer and others…

DBA. It sounds like an underground CIA operative measure. And the event DBA sponsored at the Standard Hotel last weekend in New York could be seen as a rebellious stance of sorts. Lots of arty names lined the walls including author Salman Rushdie, actors Colin Firth and David Schwimmer, artists Dan Colen, Terence Koh and Spencer Sweeney, and illustrator designers Ruben and Isabel Toledo, to name a few.  They were all given two blank booklets and a 98% biodegradable pen — made from potato starch and other natural leftovers — so that each could write or draw a booklet to be auctioned. The bids started at $98 (reflecting the 98% content) and all the proceeds benefitted Riverkeeper, the organization created by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to keep our rivers clean.

The crowd, however, including Rushdie, the Toledos, and Warholian artist Jenny Holzer, who simply wrote “THE FUTURE IS STUPID” on her booklet, lined up to a bar of free vodka and Scotch whiskey. Nothing like a room full of boozy artists to usher in Springtime in NYC. **At least, half of the booklets sold but some are still on the block. Check out this site on Wednesday (tomorrow) to view what’s up: DBABOOKLETAUCTION