Samara DiMouro reporting from Wassaic. A beautiful afternoon on Saturday, June 16, gave way to a charming evening as the Wassaic Project held a benefit to kick off its fifth annual summer exhibition, Return to Rattlesnake Mountain. Guests enjoyed local food and wine served on the deck of Maxon Mills, a once-condemned but now artfully repurposed grain tower. Wassaic Project co-directors Eve Biddle, Bowie Barnett-Zunino, and Jeff Barnett-Winsby (at left) marveled at the enthusiastic crowd that gathered to view the of-the-moment work by more than 100 artists displayed in the mill’s seven floors and to hear guest speaker Alanna Heiss, founder of P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City. The night ended with a silent auction including work by artists Danielle Durchslag, Breanne Trammell, Jeila Gueramian, Brody Condon, Carl D’Alvia, and Biddle, providing a way for viewers to give back to the project and to help ensure the continuation of the exhibit for many summers to come. Crowds will be returning for the annual summer festival August 3-5, and the summer exhibition will remain on display until September 2.
Kieran McEnroe, Amenia restaurateur Peggy A. McEnroe, and Cassie Caraello; Kenny Komer, participating artist Nic Rad, Laura Lane, and participating artist Adam Wissing.
Wassaic Project co-director Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Pete L'Official, and Sylvia L'Official; Debra Lanman and Laurence Levin.
Participating artist Jeila Gueramian, Wassaic Project committee member Bridget Potter, and artist in residence Breanne Trammell; journalist Anna Sale and Jessie Wender.
Guests take in seven floors of art work in the Maxon Mills grain tower.
Artists in residence Jisun Beak and Pamela Council; Erin Bailey and Wassaic Town Supervisor Bill Flood.
SUNY professor Julia Friday with daughter Sylvia Friday alongside husband Matthew Friday, an artist and also a professor at SUNY.
Artist Terri Moore and co-director Eve Biddle; Vassar College professor M Mark and artist Monica Church.
Written by
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
