Fourteen years in the making, stage director and designer Robert Wilson's Watermill Center opened its doors to guests at the organization's summer benefit. In years past the gala has been held on the wooded grounds of the facility—a 35,000-square-foot structure dedicated to the arts (and the work of Wilson and his contemporaries). For the grand opening benefit, the gala shifted between the grounds and the new building, with cocktails and dinner outside (the latter under a large tent) and a silent auction inside, along with tours of the completed center.The Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation administers the arts center, and its special events coordinators Natascha Theis and Meg Griffiths oversaw the benefit.
Luxury goods powerhouse Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy was the main underwriter for the event, and waitstaff served miniature bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne to guests as they entered the grounds. As with past events, artists' installations adorned the outdoor spaces, and this year Russian artist Andrey Bartenev debuted his performance piece "Emily Likes the T.V."
Designer Angela Giannopoulos of SC3 Group worked with Wilson to interpret the clean, industrial appearance of the building into the look of the event. Gray was the dominant color, covering the chairs, linens, and flower vessels. Chartreuse flowers and a bright green dance floor gave the space a hint of color. Tables arranged in long lines (seating as many as 40 per side) filled the space, and on three sides of the tent raised banquettes added additional dining areas. Olivier Cheng Catering and Events' served a main course of thyme and sea salt-crusted beef with dried corn pudding and baby zucchini. A live auction accompanied dinner, as did a performance by singers Martha Wainwright and her mother, Kate McGarrigle.
One thousand guests attended the opening benefit, including Donna Karan, Annie Leibovitz, Lou Reed, Isabella Rossellini, Ross Bleckner, and Richard Meier; in all, guests raised $1.3 million for the center's programming, residencies, and operation.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 07.25.06
Photos: Marcus Pingel (performances, tent, tables), Courtesy of Olivier Cheng Catering and Events (waiters at entry)
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Luxury goods powerhouse Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy was the main underwriter for the event, and waitstaff served miniature bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne to guests as they entered the grounds. As with past events, artists' installations adorned the outdoor spaces, and this year Russian artist Andrey Bartenev debuted his performance piece "Emily Likes the T.V."
Designer Angela Giannopoulos of SC3 Group worked with Wilson to interpret the clean, industrial appearance of the building into the look of the event. Gray was the dominant color, covering the chairs, linens, and flower vessels. Chartreuse flowers and a bright green dance floor gave the space a hint of color. Tables arranged in long lines (seating as many as 40 per side) filled the space, and on three sides of the tent raised banquettes added additional dining areas. Olivier Cheng Catering and Events' served a main course of thyme and sea salt-crusted beef with dried corn pudding and baby zucchini. A live auction accompanied dinner, as did a performance by singers Martha Wainwright and her mother, Kate McGarrigle.
One thousand guests attended the opening benefit, including Donna Karan, Annie Leibovitz, Lou Reed, Isabella Rossellini, Ross Bleckner, and Richard Meier; in all, guests raised $1.3 million for the center's programming, residencies, and operation.
—Mark Mavrigian
Posted 07.25.06
Photos: Marcus Pingel (performances, tent, tables), Courtesy of Olivier Cheng Catering and Events (waiters at entry)
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Artsy Watermill Event Goes Colorful Cuban
Projections and Parallel Lines Cover Blondie Party
Russian performance artist Andrey Bartenev premiered his work "Emily Likes the T.V." on the Watermill grounds during the event.
Waiters greeted guests at the entry to the event with miniature bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne amid a fluorescent bulb and mirror work by Laurent P. Berger.
Decor was modern and clean to reflect the look of the new building. Long tables sat as many as 40 guests on each side.
Three sides of the dinner tent featured raised platforms with banquette seating.
Adjacent to Starr Tents' large dinner tent was a series of lawn torches.
