PS21's Summer Gala: Dinner And A Performance At The End Of The Rainbow
In between sunshine and showers, PS21 honored founding member Jack Shear.
Bobbie Lloyd, PS21 Director of Operations Kelly Mackerer, the evening's honoree Jack Shear, Mark Petracca and Mina Petracca
Since 2018, when PS21 (Performance Spaces for the 21st Century) opened its brand-new Pavilion Theater, the Columbia County nonprofit has been able to expand its season. It has also expanded its reach. From May–November, PS21 offers music, dance, theater, installations, workshops, and other one-of-a-kind happenings, along with artist residencies. Its 100+ acres are open to all. The nonprofit has also made it a point to meet audiences where they are, bringing free programming out of its theater and into the surrounding cities, towns, and parks. All of these noteworthy initiatives are primarily supported by PS21’s largest fundraising event of the year, its annual gala.
This year’s gala was held Friday, July 21 and honored Jack Shear, president of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation and, along with the late Judy and Paul Grunberg, a founding member of PS21. Guests enjoyed cocktails and dinner by Local 111, followed by a special nouveau cirque performance by Cirque La Putyka from the Czech Republic. Dessert under the stars rounded out the magical evening. The event raised nearly $160,000, making it the nonprofit's most successful gala to date.
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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
