Photos from the Cynthia Rowley party at Gagosian Bookstore. (All pix by C-M & El Celso.)

It must be summer, because the artsy jet-set and their Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses have materialized in abundance on the Greek Isle of Hydra, like the wild capers that grow from the cracks all over the island’s stone stairways. This past week’s super-event was the summer show at the Hydra Workshop, a waterfront art space that puts together an annual exhibit inspired by the collection of London-based art patron Pauline Karpidas, who flew in le tout New York (and demi-Dallas) for this year’s event. Co-curated by mega-gallerist Sadie Coles, the young artist featured this year was “bad boy” New York artiste Nate Lowman, who was in attendance with non other than petite amie Mary-Kate Olsen. (Coles’ hubby, fashion photographer Juergen Teller was also there — with nary a Marc Jacobs model in sight.)

The art this year was all about being self-referential: silk-screened portraits à-la-Warhol featured all the friends-of-Lowman crowding the Hydra waterfront (and saving everyone the trouble of having to look in the mirror). Many of the images were based on photographs snapped by John Shand-kydd (cousin-by-marriage to Diana Spencer), who, to keep things really meta, was also there, snapping away at the proceedings.

For more on this little fiesta, check out Rachel Chandler’s (self-referential) report at The Moment.

Click on images to supersize.

Before le deluge.

The show packed the crowds into the steamy gallery – some of them were even decked out in trousers. Fancy!

Here the artiste, sporting of-the-moment asymmetrical ‘do, confers with girlfriend/actress/grande coffee sipper Mary-Kate Olsen – holding a Diet Coke. (Loved your work in The Wackness, M-K! ) To the right, looking slightly dazed: Swedish photographer Hanna Liden.

“Do your balls hang low, do they wobble to and fro…?”

Lowman’s portrait of Pauline Karpidas.

The real deal.

Lowman, right, does yoga stretches while enjoying some chit chat with smokin’ sculptor U.B. Morgan. In the background, M-K holds court with Herr Juergen in front of gyro advertising.

Pandemonium was unleashed when this young lady tried to parallel park her donkey, almost mowing down the artiste. Quelle horreur!