Joe Thompson, the director of MASS MoCA, and his wife, the writer Jennifer Trainer Thompson, designed the 10th anniversary ball, which took place on May 23, to feel as gracious and familial as if they were entertaining at home. The invitation said "creative black tie," which allowed people to dress in ways that best reflected their personalities. After cocktails in Building 5 (left), dinner was served family style (so you could help yourself to seconds!) and guests passed platters of Mezze Catering's summery roast chicken with olives and lemon confit and bowls of quinoa and Equinox Farm arugula salad, red bliss potatoes with Meyer lemon vinaigrette, and a medley of asparagus, edamame, snow peas and roasted radishes. There was a basket of Berkshire Mountain Bakery's amazing grape-and-rosemary ciabatta and a platter of queso fresco from Cricket Creek Farm on every table, too. After the speeches, which included a salute to former Governor Michael Dukakis who was intstrumental in getting MASS MoCA off the ground, everyone headed to the Hunter Theater to dance to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
Tenth anniversary ball committee member Nancy Kalodner with Kitty and Michael Dukakis, the former governor of Massachusetts.
Filmmaker Susanna Styron and choreographer/dancer Marta Miller; Kip Sheridan, who broke his tibia riding his daughter's scooter, with ball committee member Tim Eustis.
Maureen & John Jerome; Ouisa Fohrhaltz & Jock Burbank
WAMC Northeast Public Radio president Alan Chartock with his wife, Roselle Chartock, a professor at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams.
Stockbridge siblings Pip and Maisie Deely; Hancock Shaker Village president Ellen Spear and her husband, Brad Spear, a radio announcer and onetime voice of Tanglewood.
Athan Venell and photographer Sloan Tomlinson
The inimitable Vicki Bonnington and David Schecker; Dr. Elizabeth Beautyman and Gordon Travers, chairman of the board of The Mount, who masterminded its financial rescue.
Williams College dance professor Holly Silva, professor Don Quinn Kelley and Williams dance professor Sandra Burton
Writer and blogger Gina Hyams with her husband Dave Barrett, the director of development for Jacob's Pillow; Berkshire Museum's Stuart Chase, The Clark's Julie Chase and Suky Werman of Stonover Farm.
MASS MoCA trustee Joyce Bernstein and Larry Rosenthal; Kris Anderson and Nicole Garzino of Simon's Rock.
Cultural Pittsfield's Ryan Weightman, North Adams Transcript staff photographer Gillian L. Jones, and Kolok Gallery director Kurt Kolok.
MASS MoCA founding director Joe Thompson and his wife, the writer Jennifer Trainer Thompson; Jen & Bigs Waterman, the contractor responsible for Building 7 where the Sol LeWitt exhibition is installed.
The centerpieces referenced The Nanjing Particles, Simon Starling's installation in Building 5, where the dinner was held; Mezze Catering co-owner Nancy Thomas helps clean up after dinner.
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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
