One of the amazing things about MASS MoCA is that a cutting-edge museum with an international reputation thrives in rural, northern Berkshire County. As community-oriented as MASS MoCA is, it can not depend on locals to sustain it financially, which is why the museum holds an annual fundraiser in Manhattan. The guest list for the party on Monday, November 23, included art world heavy hitters such as Max Protech, Carol LeWitt, Carrie Mae Weems, Gregory Crewdson, and Doug & Mike Starn. Many of MASS MoCA's patrons straddle the city and country, such as Meryl Streep and her husband, sculptor, Don Gummer, who have long had a house in Salisbury, CT, and the collectors Melva Bucksbaum & Ray Learsey of Sharon, CT. Like its north county neighbor the Williamstown Theatre Festival, which had its NYC benefit the week before, MASS MoCA choose a funky but glamorous location—the Angel Orensanz Foundation on the Lower East Side—so it could have its own hometown caterer, Nancy Thomas of Mezze and Allium, serve the dinner. What could be cooler than the folks from North Adams putting on a party that impresses even jaded Manhattanites? (Photographs courtesy of MASS MoCA and Kalika Farmer.)
Meryl Streep, a member of MASS MoCA Director's Advisory Council, and Chuck Close.
MASS MoCA trustees Nancy Fitzpatrick and Bobbie Crosby; Perri Petricca and Madline McKelvey
Christopher Jones with Taryn & Mark Leavitt.
Artists Steve Hannock and Don Gummer; MASS MoCA trustee Bridget Fawcett with art dealer Pip Deely.
Artist Vita Zaman and curator Nikki Columbus.
Chris Doyle, an artist in the Elegies exhibit at MASS MoCA, with Elegies curator Denise Markonish and Tim Hoolihan.; Susan Brown, Gary & Peggy Shilling and Duncan Brown, chairman of the MASS MoCA board.
George Bolster, an artist in MASS MoCA's Elegies show, with artist Jane Philbrick, and curator Stephen Hepworth
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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
