The Wassaic Project Is A Must-See Art World Happening
Posted by: Dan Shaw
Posted on: Saturday, August 15, 2009
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Full Article
The Wassaic Project Summer Festival, which opened on Friday, August 14, is ambitious, audacious, and an absolute blast. As RI reported a few week ago, it is the brainchild of Eve Biddle, Elan Bogarin and Bowie Zunino (whose family has had a house in Kent, CT for 30 years.) It has transformed the tiny hamlet of Wassaic (a half mile south of the last stop on the MetroNorth Harlem Line) into an avant garde crossroads for this weekend. The young women have taken over a handsomely restored seven-story granary and a well-worn cattle-auction barn (left) and turned them into gallery spaces for a mix of artists from our region, Brooklyn and other hipster capitals—the goal is to forge a creative link between northeastern Dutchess County and New York City. The result is provocation and thrilling discovery in a down-home setting. This weekend, there’s music, dance, readings, talk-backs, film, food, and scores of artists camping out in the fields. Next weekend (August 21 - 22), there won’t be all the special events, but the exhibits and installations will remain on view, and if you have any interest in contemporary art The Wassaic Project is a not to be missed experience.
Glen Einbinder and Monisha Raja, who have art residencies at Chasama North in nearby Pine Plains; artists Henry Klimowicz and Jen P. Harris with Bonnie Jones.
Eve Biddle and Elan Bogarin, two of the three founders of The Wassaic Project.
Artist Seth Michael Forman and law professor Bennett Capers; local artists and volunteers Tilly Strauss and Michael Gellatly
Luke Sundquist, Angela Dawson, Mary Dawson, and Walker Waugh of Brooklyn’s Work Gallery, which has six artists showing at The Wassaic Project.
Melissa Barrett and Rob O’ Neill with their site specific installation, Now This Happens, in the Luther Barn; Alex Jaschik and Julian Morello.
Like any contemporary art museum, The Wassaic Project has a store selling books and great T-shirts.
Dave Weston and Michelle Leftheris; Chelsea art dealer and Cornwall resident Frederieke Taylor with Susan Madigan.
Artist Peter Segerstrom, whose “pyramids” are in the camping fields behind him, with musician Michael Hilde; Michael Ward and George Eatman.
A site specific installation called The Resurrection of Michael Jackson by Jonathan Bee in the old mill.
Jonathan Bee, Millerton florist Kamilla Najdek, and antiques dealer Kent Hunter
