Amy Krzanik reports from New Lebanon. To celebrate the opening of its newest exhibit, the video Rock My Religion by Dan Graham, Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon hosted a full day of events on Saturday, September 13 that included screenings of the work, talks with Graham and tours of the grounds, and culminated in a reception and dinner in the Tannery. Board members, patrons and artists mixed and mingled over cocktails in the historic building, followed by dinner prepared by SoMa Catering using the best from Columbia and Berkshire County farms, including poultry from Letterbox Farm Collective in Hudson and Climbing Tree in New Lebanon, and produce from Colfax Farm in Canaan and Markristo Organic Farm in Hillsdale, among others. Dessert was a Shaker-inspired apple tart paired ingeniously with SoCo Creamery’s ginger ice cream. Another nod to the landmark’s past inhabitants came at the end of musician Rebekah Heller’s performance. The International Contemporary Ensemble bassoonist performed a solo piece she helped create, and finished with the much adored Shaker classic “Simple Gifts." Proceeds from the benefit dinner help fund the Museum’s preservation efforts and public programs. Above, Herbert Teitelbaum, Museum President David Stocks and Ruth J. Abram.
Artist Michael Flomen, trustee Rae Gilson and Jeff Bailey, trustee and gallery owner; Ellen and Alan Goldner with PS21's Judy Grunberg.
Peter Lease with Vernon Evenson; Florence Ségalot, gallerist Jack Shainman, Carlos Vega and art dealer Philippe Ségalot.
Kelly Ward, Ian Berry and Lori Riggs, all three from the Tang Museum at Skidmore; Robert Gilson, Stephanie Aeder and Jerry Grant, who is the Museum's director of collections and research.
Trustee Lauree Hickok, with Laura Williams Reed who is the granddaughter of Museum founder John Williams, Bob Gilson and ceramicist Barry Bartlett; John Broome with Cordelia Lawton.
Gary Delemeester, Board Chair Jeff Daly, Edward Parran and Jim Guidera.
Claude Arpels, ICE board president, Winsome Brown and trustee Jeff Lick; Tour guide Anna O'Meara, gallery guide Chloe Houseman, Museum coordinator Wyatt Erchak and tour guide Rebecca Kurtz.
Samantha Baker, Allan Weiser, Kathy Weiser and Malcolm Baker; Peter Lease and Ed Wood.
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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
