The Storm King Art Center—known as one of the world’s leading outdoor sculpture parks in the lower Hudson Valley—celebrated its sixth annual gala dinner and live auction last week at The Four Seasons Restaurant, honoring The Duke of Devonshire and artist Andy Goldsworthy. Founded in 1960 by Ralph E. Ogden and H. Peter Stern, and named after Storm King Mountain several miles east of its location in Cornwall, New York, Storm King’s creative grounds span over 500 acres, and is open to the public until November 30.
Today, and since 2008, John Stern—H. Peter Stern’s son—is the President of Storm King, while Stern Sr. is the Honorary Chair. David R. Collens has been Director and Curator since 1976, while James H. Ottaway Jr. is the Chair of Storm King. Through the professional direction of these key members, Storm King has successfully showcased numerous artworks over the past 50 years, and has, for the past six years, celebrated these efforts by a live auction gala.
“The Duke of Devonshire has been member of our board for nearly a decade and is a visionary collector in his own right. Andy Goldsworthy has been part of our collection for many years, his Stone Wall joined the collection in 1997-98.. Both received the Storm King Award, which is given in recognition of meaningful contributions in the fields of visual arts, landscape, and nature conservation,” said Storm King’s President, John Stern.
Guests that attended were the likes of Alice Aycock, Lynda Benglis, Jeppe Hein, Philip Rickey, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Mark di Suvero, Doug and Mike Starn, Cynthia Polsky, Lee Auchincloss, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, Kate D. Levin, Cheryl Haines, Adam Sheffer, Jane Gladstone, Tom Eccles, Peter Bienstock, Helen Drutt English, Kate D. Levin, Arne and Milly Glimcher, among many others.
The live auction was overseen by Jamie Niven, former Chairman of Sotheby’s, The Americas, and included works by Lynda Benglis, George Rickey, Joel Shapiro and Richard Serra and a day at Chatsworth Estate.
“Storm King is preparing to announce their 2016 season. Also, this October, in collaboration with Delmonico Books, we are publishing the first comprehensive monograph of Mark di Suvero, with contributions from Storm King curator Nora Lawrence and Ursula von Rydingsvard,” said David Collens, Director and Chief Curator of Storm King.