Cultural correspondent Bess J.M. Hochstein reports: Last Saturday in Lenox, there was something old, something new, and definitely something in the air. The annual show of new work by Lucy MacGillis, who was born in the Berkshires and lives and paints in Umbria, attracted a typically enthusiastic crowd at Hoadley Gallery. Just a block down Church Street, art jewelry connoisseur Sienna Patti opened the doors of her new Lenox gallery, SPQ Projects, with the exhibition Decadence & Disarray. As the dinner hour approached, supporters of IS183 Art School of the Berkshires headed to Stonover Farm, which hosted a benefit barbeque dinner. And as night fell, the scene heated up for the school’s Kitefest Dance Party in Stonover’s barn, in conjunction with the juried art show, Kite, in the Barn Gallery. A successful raffle of four stylized kites, made by the artist Michael Rousseau, helped elevate the mood. Gallerist Patti (in photo, with Bill Wright), relieved after hosting her own party, was among the high-spirited celebrants, several of whom attended all three events.
The capacity crowd at Hoadley Gallery spilled out onto the porch. Less than an hour into the reception, eight of MacGillis' paintings had sold, and two more were put on reserve.
Artist Lucy MacGillis with her mother, Ingrid MacGillis; gallery owners Tom and Stephanie Hoadley.
Kristin O'Connell and The Boston Globe'sDonald MacGillis, father of the artist; Bates College student Hannah Wilkin and Pittsfield psychotherapist Christine Burbank.
Kripalu massage therapist Peggy Schjeldahl and Megha Nancy Buttenheim, a self-professed "Lucy collector;" MCLA'sJonathan Secor and Ana Harkins of Kadmus Arts.
Sienna Patti (center) welcomes Joan and Jim Hunter to her new gallery, SPQ Projects.
1Berkshire CEO Stuart Chase and Bobbie Paley; Sienna Patti's parents, Tom and Marilyn Patti.
Anita Curtin, Marianne Klimchuk, and Niki "Buffy" Giokas; Lillian Lennox Whitehead flanked by her daughters, Blake and Morgan Whitehead.
Studio Two's Heather Rose with Malcolm and B.J. Salter; Studio Two marketeer Kevin Sprague with Claudia and Steven Perles.
Beth Sapery, gallerista Leslie Ferrin, and Rosita Sarnoff; photographer and gallery artist Bill Wright and Emporium proprietor Carrie Wright with their daughter Parker and photographer Jay Elling.
Attorneys David Schecker and Vicki Bonnington, whose broad-rimmed hat came in handy during the KiteFest BBQ; fiction writer Brendan Mathews, who teaches at Simon's Rock, with Margaret Keller.
Tom Potter, Stonover Farm proprietor Tom Werman, BIFF boss Kelley Vickery, and BlueQ's Seth Nash; Hancock Shaker Village's Danielle Steinmann with artist Michael Rousseau.
Sylvia & Robert Schecker; realtors Nancy Kalodner and Anne Wallach flank Alan Wallach.
Jewelry designer Jill Schwartz of Elements with Caitlin Nash of BlueQ; Rebecca Weinman with IS183 Art School director Hope Sullivan.
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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
