Amy Krzanik reports from Spencertown. Tomorrow, Friday, May 6, marks the 2016 opening day of Steepletop, the former home and gardens of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. But The Millay Society threw a pre-opening benefit celebration at Spencertown Academy Arts Center on Saturday, April 30. Held on the last day of National Poetry Month, the event doubled as a celebration of the publication of two new tomes: Selected Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay: An Annotated Edition, which includes an introduction by Millay literary executor Holly Peppe; and A Girl Called Vincent, a Millay biography for young readers by Krystyna Poray Goddu. Both Poray Goddu and Peppe, who is also a Millay Society trustee, read from their work and signed copies of their books. The centerpiece of the evening was a concert featuring Millay’s poems set to music by The Edna Project. Written by husband and wife team Liz Queler and Seth Farber, the songs were performed by the duo and their son. Proceeds from the event will help fund the ongoing restoration of Steepletop, which Millay and her husband, Eugen Boissevain, purchased in 1925 and Millay lived in until her death in 1950. The Auserlitz property, which opened to the public in 2010, offers tours of the house and grounds (which include Millay’s gravesite), bird walks, access to trails and picnicking spots, and an herb sale coming up on May 21 and 22. Above, The Millay Society trustees, Greg Vogler, Eileen Fusco, Holly Peppe and Mark O'Berski, pose in front of a portrait of the author.
Cono Fusco, Patrick Town and Cathy Town, a docent at Steepletop; Mary Alice Bird and John Bird of Rockland, Maine flank Steepletop volunteer Carol Derfner. The Birds attended as representatives of the Rockland Historical Society, which recently purchased Millay's birthplace in order to preserve it and eventually open it to the public.
Spencertown Academy board member Jill Kalotay with Mark O'Berski and Spencertown board vice president Madaline Sparks (a.k.a. RI's garden columnist); authors Krystyna Poray Goddu and Holly Peppe with their books.
The Edna Project, composed of the three members of the Queler-Farber family, entertain the crowd.
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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
