On Saturday, August 5, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) hosted an intimate brunch at the private Aspen residence of Sandra and Tony Tamer on Highlands Mountain. The Tamers, and co-hosts Sarah Arison and Thomas Wilhelm, welcomed YoungArts supporters, philanthropists, and leaders to an afternoon celebrating the arts.
The highlight was a multidisciplinary performance by YoungArts alumni Blake Pfeil (2006 YoungArts Winner in Theater), Harrison Knostman (2018 YoungArts Winner in Dance), and Sophia Dion (2018 YoungArts Winner in Voice). Pfeil took center stage with his original piece Oscar; Midnight Train, written and performed by Dion, brought guests to tears; and Knostman moved through the audience with a modern choreography to Opia by Bungler. For the emotional finale, the artists performed the classic Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper.
Notable attendees included contemporary artists Mickalene Thomas and Óscar Murrillo, Americans for the Arts’ Nora Halpern, The Bass Executive Director and Chief Curator Silvia Karman Cubiñá, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum curator and Founder of the Aspen Art Barn Alexandra Munroe, and Lincoln Center President and CEO Henry Timms, as well as Rob and Kim Cortez, Dana and Mazen Farouki, Freddy and Jessica Menjivar, Sami and Hala Mnaymneh, Angela and Adam Shopkorn, and Graham Steel.
The event was made possible by the generous support of YoungArts partner Deutsche Bank.