On Saturday, July 29, over 1000 people attended the 24th annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit and Auction supporting the organization’s year-round artist residency and education programs. The sold-out night, dubbed “Fly Into The Sun,” was hosted by Robert Wilson and presented by Van Cleef & Arpels. Artist Laurie Anderson was honored, alongside Isabelle Huppert in tribute to the late Lou Reed.
Guests were treated to installations and performances by Jared Madere, Somos Monstros, Jokubas Nosovas, Nikitas Broukakis, Sam Khoshbin, Kate Gilmore, Nile Harris, Stephen Shanabrook, Vesna Mackovic, Dana Davenport, Rachel Frank, Christopher Knowles, Xu Zhen, and more.
Laurie Anderson, Robert Wilson, Isabelle HuppertPhoto by BFA
Special cocktails were provided by Tequila Don Julio, enjoyed while viewing an auction of over 100 works by artists including Lindsey Adelman, Carlos Bunga, Saint Clair Cemin, Candida Hofer, Joseph Kosuth, Annie Leibovitz, Raúl de Nieves, Hani Rashid, James Rosenquist, Paul Thek, Rosemarie Trockel, Carrie Mae Weems, and others.
A family style dinner by BITE offered an introduction to the foundation’s new president, Claude Grunitzky. Simon de Pury acted as auctioneer for the night, followed by a special performance from Anderson and dancing to DJ sets from Flat White aka Virgil Abloh.
Photo by BFA
