Rachel Louchen reports from Williamstown. At the opening - night gala "Exposition Universelle," held on Saturday, February 16, for Electric Paris, the new exhibit at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, guests were greeted by a giant projection of an illuminated Arc de Triomphe. A fitting entranceway for the exhibit (it runs through April 21), which celebrates how the newly invented phenomenon of artificial light affected artists at the turn of the last century. Inside, not far from an accordion player who provided appropriate Gallic melodies, was a giant Eiffel Tower, the very icon of the newly modern world the city embraced at the time. As the night waned, the gallery remained packed, with guests continuing to ogle the luminescent paintings by Degas, Bonnard, Prendergast, and others, until minutes before closing. And who can blame them? There's nothing like Paris, lights on or off. Above, The Clark'sKathy Morris and Sarah Lees.
Nancy Maier of Williamstown with Andy Williams, and his wife, The Clark's Lisa Williams; Lydia Ross and Steve Nesterak of Williams College.
Tom Merrill, Anne Roecklein, and Derek Parker, all of North Adams; Daniel Selgrade with Williams College student, Thadeus Dowed.
Julia Hore of Brooklyn, Kyle Hoffman, curator Holly Clayson and her son, James Cogbill, also from Brooklyn.
Michael Foster and The Berkshire Eagle's Laura Lofgren; Julia Moffet with curator, Camran Mani.
Karen Jackuback with member, Anders Carlson; Kathy McKnight and Phillip McKnight of Williamstown.
Artist Joe Goodwin and Claudia Perles.
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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
