Fiona Breslin reports from Stockbridge. The chilly spring evening had everyone bundled up April 28 when the Berkshire Botanical Garden held its 2012 season-opening party, but as all wise gardeners know, the full heat of summer will soon be upon us. In anticipation of that inevitable change in the weather, the BBG opened its new exhibition, Gimme Shelter: Architects Design for Shade. The show features four sheltering structures designed by Jamie Odegaard and Peter Murkett of New England Modern; Millbrook’s Jimmy Crisp; Lenox’s Kristine Sprague; and Williamstown’s Burr & McCallum Architects, whose inviting bench, suspended under a sky-lit shelter (demonstrated by Kevin Sprague and his son Matt, above), ensured the party was a swinging affair.
Executive director Molly Boxer and chairman Matthew Larkin; architect Jimmy Crisp and Alicia Crisp in front of his light-filled shelter.
Jen and Jamie Odegaard in front his shelter; contractor Mike Shiels with building supplier Rich Herrington and builder Lou Boxer.
Kenzie Fields and her son Odie with Ned and Rebecca Odegaard; furniture maker Peter Murkett and Nathaniel Bossi.
Cookiehead Lisa Newmann and Robert Dow; Garden members Ian Hooper, Joy Howe, Bill Howe, and Madeline Hooper.
Gray Davis, designer Chase Booth, Aaron Dunn of Grant Larkin, and Catherine Delphia; artist Shawn Fields with his children Peter and Honey.
Sally Bainbridge and Phillip Bainbridge with Gary Scheft and Cheryl Heller; the Garden's communications manager Silka Glanzman with Anastasia Stanmeyer and photographer John Stanmeyer.
Patrons Elise and Carl Hartman; Dan Rayhill and Garden trustee Judith Owens with Frank Quesada, Scott King and Randy Conti.
Liza and Nik Koblov stopped by the gardens after biking past with their children Slava and Lara Koblov; Brazilian poet Tarcísio Ramos hitched a ride with the Garden's youth educational coordinator Jamie Samowitz.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
