Scott Baldinger reports from Annandale-On-Hudson. On the evening of Saturday, July 20, both literal and figurative giants, along with their supporters and admirers, celebrated the tenth anniversary of Bard’s so-wonderful-looking-you-could-cry Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, designed by architect Frank Gehry, pictured at left with friend Meaghan Lloyd. The evening began with hors d'oeuvres and dinner at the college’s Spiegeltent and moved on to the vaunted hall itself, where Tommy Tune (6'6") served as emcee for the evening of appearances, performances, and compelling testimonials by Leon Botstein, David Strathairn, benefactors Martin Sosnoff and Jeanne Donovan Fisher, and, at the end, an evidently moved Roberta Flack, who sang Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" with a metaphorical eye on the center’s supporters. A plea to donors was never so touching, even if it was preaching to the choir; no doubt the people who packed the hall that night will keep "loving" through the next ten years to come.
Artists Judi Harvest and Martin Kline, Rhinebeck Department Store's Barbara Schreiber, and Fisher Center benefactor Martin Sosnoff.
Jaynne Keyes, Toni Sosnoff, and art dealer Stephen Mazoh; artist Dean Vallas and Bard Music Festival Associate Director Raissa St. Pierre.
Artist Gisa Botbol, psychotherapist Judy Fein, singer Renee Snyder; Matt Alexander and Bard's Coleen Murphy Alexander.
Al and Aida Wilder, film producer Claude Dalfarra, and Diane Sharpe.
John Blair and Sandy Blair; Harvard Museum curator Stephan Wolohojian and Martin Kline.
Jeri Charles and violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn; Bard's President and Renaissance Man, Leon Botstein.
Actor David Strathairn performing a scene from Uncle Vanya; the evening's emcee, Tommy Tune.
Written by
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
