Rachel Louchen reports from Wassaic. There's a good reason The Wassaic Project needs an entire summer to display its main exhibition: because there's so much to see, touch and experience. On Saturday, June 11, preview party guests got a glimpse of what's in store for the Project's 9th summer. Appetite for Destruction features the work of 56 artists, 45 of whom have lived and made art in the hamlet within the past 18 months. Named after a Robert Williams painting as well as a pretty famous rock-n-roll album, the exhibit is housed in an old grain elevator that's been transformed into a tower of art, with all seven floors featuring works ranging from visual interpretations of the untamed natural world to man-made environments to virtual reality. While a seven-floor walkup seems daunting, there are so many sights and sounds to gawk at, that before you know it, you're at the installation of Polarized Landscapes by artist David Grainger on the top level. The preview party also touched on the lineup for the Summer Festival in August, a three-day multidisciplinary celebration of art, music, film and dance featuring over 60 artists, 15 bands, film screenings and dance performances. It sounds like a cliche to say it, but The Wassaic Project gets better (and more fun) every year. [Above, Bowie Zunino and Jeff Barnett-Winsby, founders and co-executive directors of the Wassaic Project.]
Program directors Scott Anderson, Charmaine Warren, Tim Love Lee and Liliana Greenfield-Sanders.
Michael Masterson and financial advisor Matt Lynn; Carlene Avalone, a former intern returning to participate in this year's festival, and Dani Silva, a first-year intern.
Lily Wong and exhibition intern Abby Cosinuke; landscape designer Ben Young and painter Brendan O'Connor.
Brooke Rogers, writer Jillian Dunham, Mike Welt and Will Welt became part of #NiagaraFiles by artist Rebekah Flake.
Artist Daniel Carello, whose work is exhibited on the fifth floor, with educational intern Sonja John; former intern Alyson Carpenter with Toni Reid, visiting from NYC.
Kate and Dana Rapisard participated in the exhibition; designer John Truex of Shinola with Matt Jordan.
Party committee member Bridget Potter and writer Cami Delavigne.
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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
