Although MASS MoCA is best known as a museum of the visual arts, it is equally committed to the performing arts, which is why there were so many performances at its sold-out annual New York City benefit at the Highline Ballroom on October 14, including the Brooklyn-based band, Bathrop, Alabama (video left), Cynthia Hopkins (who has been an artist-in-residence at MASS MoCA), the Natural Expressios Rhythm Band, Abena Koomson, tap dancer Andrew J. Nemr, and Dean & Britta. The mix of guests (residents of North Adams & Williamstown as well as die-hard Manhattanites and Brooklyn artists) and the variety of auction items (such as a limited edition of photographer Gregory Crewdsen's Sanctuary and a three-day insider's tour of Berlin galleries and artists' studios) reflects MASS MoCA's international stature as a rural citadel for the avant garde.
Orly Genger, who donated a rope sculpture, A Little Big, to the live auction and whose Big Boss is part of MASS MoCA's Material World exhibition, with RPI architecture professor Michael Oatman, whose new outdoor installation All Utopias Fell opens at MASS MoCA on October 23; Maryse Brand and Mark Hall.
Tracy & Andy Foster; art historian Gertje Utley, author of Pablo Picasso: The Communist Years, and newsman Garrick Utley, president of the Levin Institute of the State University of New York.
David Lipa, Emma Hall and Chris Byrne.
Joel & Patty Ellis; Pam Loree and artist Mark Williams.
Joan Hunter, the chairman of the board of Jacob's PIllow and Ella Baff, executive director of the Pillow; Sarah Holbrooke and Mary Burnham.
Jane Eckert of the Eckert Gallery in Kent, CT, who is chairman of the MASS MoCA Director's Advisory Council, with fellow council member Dorothy Lichtenstein and artist Michael Kalish, who shows at the Eckert Gallery.
MASS MoCA trustee Joyce Bernstein with Igor Greenwald and Pittsfield cultural development director Megan Whilden; Marilyn Patti with Allen & Sarah Natow.
Artists Julie Mehretu and Rico Gatson; MASS MoCA trustee George Ahl and MASS MoCA marketing director Katherine Myers.
Melissa Salten and Kate Morris, whose husband, Hans Morris, is the new chairman of the MASS MoCA board.
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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
