Amy Krzanik reports from New Lebanon.Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon’s annual summer benefit gala, held this year on Saturday, Aug. 19, began with a cocktail hour in and around the Vault of the impressive Great Stone Barn. Guests moved to the tent for dinner, which was prepared by The Farmer’s Wife located in Ancramdale and Millbrook, New York. The evening’s highlight was a performance by the gala’s guests of honor, actress Frances McDormand and actress/singer Suzzy Roche [shown left]. The two performed an excerpt from The Wooster Group's Early Shaker Spirituals: A Record Album Interpretation, which was introduced by The Wooster Group’s current and founding member Kate Valk. Dolores Meissner of Meissner’s Auctions led a live auction, where supporters participated in a friendly battle for trips, nights out on the town, finely made Shaker reproduction side tables and other items. Coffee, camaraderie and desserts from Manhattan’s Magnolia Bakery rounded out the evening’s events. Early Shaker Spirituals will return to The Performing Garage in SoHo for a limited engagement this December. [Above photo of Frances McDormand and Suzzy Roche by John Mulligan.]
Chair of the board Paul Cassidy with Lisa Malone Jackson, the site's director of advancement, and her husband Jeffrey Jackson; Patricia Crown and Tracy Kelly.
Jed Englund and Alyce Englund, a curator at The Met; architect John James, Jill and Rufus Jones of the James Weldon Johnson Foundation, and board member Rae Gilson.
Daniel Schmeder, Zoe McFarland and Gavin McFarland; chair emeritus Jeff Daly with Dennis Corrado.
Julia Todoli, Roni Horn and Vernon Evenson; Chris Thompson and David Landauer.
Jeffrey Peabody, Jennifer Dowly and Guy Walker of The Re Institute; Arlin Wasserman with Dan and Nina Worth.
Auctioneer Dolores Meissner and Lacy Schutz, the site's executive director; Nancy Kyle, Michael Hursa, Max Gitter and Linda Hursa, who created bouquets for the dinner tables.
Jerry Grant, the Museum's director of collections and research, with Toby Bilanow and Stephen McNabb; Shaker scholar Sharon Koomler, Stephanie Aeder and Rae Gilson.
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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
