Amy Krzanik reports from New York City. This year's MASS MoCA fall benefit, held in the breathtaking 583 Park Avenue on October 23, focused on raising funds for the museum's music and performing arts programs. (Not only is MASS MoCA an important venue for the visual arts, but it was also the site of three music festivals this past year: the Solid Sound Music Festival in June, Bang on a Can Music Festival in July, and the FreshGrass bluegrass festival in September.) Hotshots from the worlds of art, music, film, business, and philanthropy gathered for cocktails and dinner, followed by a live auction conducted by Eric Widing, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s Americas. Generous guests raised their paddles to bid on items including a limited edition Talking Heads LP designed by Robert Rauschenberg and signed by David Byrne, a trip to the Sundance Film Festival, an original Sol LeWitt, a Jenny Holzer print, and a sailing trip with Wilco's John Stirratt. Bang on a Can All-Stars capped off the night by performing an excerpt from Julia Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated Appalachian folk-ballad Steel Hammer. Proceeds from the evening go toward funding residencies, workshops, and performances for and by musicians and the community. (Shown: MASS MoCA Curator Susan Cross, artist Katharina Grosse, and MASS MoCA Director Joseph Thompson).
Board Members Jim Hunter and Joan Hunter with Christopher Jones; Deputy Director Larry Smallwood, gallerist Tyler Rollins, and creative consultant Karen Slade.
MASS MoCA's Director of Communications Jodi Joseph and artist Izhar Patkin; Board Member Alan Beller, John and Astrid Baumgardner, and Leslie Beller.
Bang on a Can All-Stars: David Cossin, Vicky Chow, Ken Thomson, and Ashley Bathgate; Emma Hall and Mark Quilhot.
Producer John Hart, Constantine Baecher, and David Forer; Shinil Paulose, Loan Lam, and David Baldie.
Glenn Morrow, Elizabeth Van Itallie, and Jeff and Mary Lou Shafer; MASS MoCA's Curator of Performing Arts Rachel Chanoff and Ann Harakawa.
Musician Nels Cline and wife, musician Yuka Honda, (center) try out the instrument centerpieces.
Producer Ann Edelberg and Otoja Abit; Bridget Moore, the evening's auctioneer Eric Widing, and artist Darren Waterston.
Christine Olsen, Board Member Joyce Bernstein, and Larry Rosenthal; Lindsay Maas and Jason Maas.
Louis Rose, owner of 583 Park Avenue, and Helen Little; MASS MoCA Senior Graphic Designer Liz Plahn with MASS MoCA interns Thomas Huston and Joshua Gutierrez.
Lisa Rosenthal and Dr. Pamela Rosenthal; Anthony Weintraub, Sarah Eustis, and Donald Fawcett.
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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
