These Boots Were Made for Talkin’: Inside Timberland’s “Advice of an Icon” Discussion With Spike Lee

With a nonstop press tour for his new film Highest 2 Lowest (starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky), Spike Lee still found time on Tuesday evening to talk shop—and break bread—on the front portico of the Brooklyn Museum, marking a first-of-its-kind event on the neoclassical façade.

As a nod to Timberland’s legacy of resilience and innovation, the American footwear brand tapped the legendary filmmaker as the face of its latest campaign, Advice of an Icon. Editor and stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson hosted a lively, memorable Q&A, and the scenic evening brought together fellow artists, tastemakers, and industry leaders to celebrate the fundamentals of creation—and their shared commitment to the arts.

It isn’t every day that Spike Lee openly solicits advice at a forum-style event, so guests sat rapt as he and Karefa-Johnson discussed integrity, lasting impact, and dedication in the pursuit of excellence—all values embodied by Timberland’s distinctive Original Yellow Boot.

Known for valiant, evocative storytelling and outsized cultural influence, Lee also underscored the importance of mentoring the next generation. “Leave a path for the next generation,” he said. Like the cinema savant himself, the Original Yellow Boot stands for strength, fearlessness, and shaping culture—past, present, and future.

As the evening unfolded, friends of Timberland made their way to the portico balcony for a moonlit dinner. Guests included Chance the Rapper, Joe Holder, Aweng Chuol, Cam Hicks, Choyce Brown, Claire Prince, Deon Hinton, Ferg, Hannah Traore, Hidji, Hugo Mendoza, Jordan Chiles, JT, Kai Avent-deLeon, Manoj Dias, Maurice Kamara, Mobolaji Dawodu, Pi’erre Bourne, Ruba Abu-Nimah, Shareef O’Neal, TiaCorine, Tiwa Savage, Wisdom Kaye, Yu Ling Wu, and more.