The Big Bang
The 19th Annual Watermill Center
 Summer Benefit raises:
$1,550,000 for The Watermill Center

Highlights of the live auction included: Cindy Sherman winning Otto Piene's stunning guilded work.  Other highlights included a rare drawing by Willem de Kooning and unique works by Anselm Reyle, Jim Hodges, and Michelangelo Pistoletto.  Maja Hoffman, major supporter of the Mike Kelley: 1954-2012 exhibition won a unique hand painted mask from Robert Wilson's production of The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic. 

Over 20 site specific installations and performances were presented on the grounds during the event by such artists as Misaki Kawai, Wang Quinsong, Lucien Smith, Heeran Lee, Paul McCarthy, Kembra Pfahler and The Voluptuos Horror of Karen Black, Atopos CVC + Manon Kundig,  Carol Ross, Desi Santiago, Tucker Marder, Kitty Huffman, Atopos CVC + Craig Green, Masanao Hirayama, Hanna Reidmar, Paula Garcia, Marianna Kavallieratos, Thanassis Akokkalidis, and Janice Lancaster Larsen.

All of these works were produced by over 70 artists and participants from over 2 dozen nations on site in the weeks leading up to the benefit and some will be on view again to the community on August 12 from 3-6 pm for Watermill’s annual Discover Watermill day which is free and open to the public. 

Guests for cocktails (over 1,200) were greeted by an installation created by summer program participants that recreated the above benefit image of Paul Thek's work: Big Bang Painting and Bacardi specialty cocktail: The Big Bang.  The west terrace featured a 60' inflatable installation by Paul McCarthy.  The West fasҫade of the building was covered entirely by a spectacular and dramatic installation by artist Wang Quinsong.

Also opening at the event was Mike Kelley: 1954 - 2012, a tribute exhibition in collaboration with the LUMA Foundation.  The exhibition is curated by Harald Falckenberg and will be on view at The Watermill Center through September 16.  For more information and to make an appointment to view the exhibition please visit: www.watermillcenter.org/mikekelley. 

Over 650 guests arrived in the dinner tent to decorations by Atopos CVC + Yoshikazu Yamagata.  This year the Master of Ceremonies was Jay McInerney.   Daniel Chetrit DJ'ed in the Auction Tent after dinner, where guests also mingled at the 20 foot bar, compliments of Bacardi.

Guests at the event included Robert Wilson with Benefit Chairs, Jay McInerney & Anne Hearst McInerney, Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, Lisa Anastos, Jorn Weisbrodt, Charles Renfro, Lisa Perry, Shaikha Paula al Sabah, Henry Buhl, Dorothy Lichtenstein, Tatiana & Campion Platt, Louise Blouin, Stewart Lane & Bonnie Comely.

Along with Contemporary Chairs and Committee members Valerie Boster, Meredith Melling Burke, Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea, Peter Brandt Jr, Harry Brandt, Lauren Remington Platt, Martin Dawson, Daisy Johnson, Edward Chapman, Mark Mullet, Behnaz Sarafpour, Roopal Patel.

And many others including Tom Sachs, Simon de Pury, Cindy Sherman, Bob Colacello, Nicole Miller, Jane Holzer, Klaus Biesenbach, Renaud Dutreil, Richard Meier, Zaldy, Jim Signorelli, Alina Cho, Stefano Tonchi, Roselee Goldberg, Ubah Hassan,Beth DeWoody, Kyle DeWoody, Nicholas Coblence, Eugenio Lopez, Maja Hoffmann & Stanley Buchthal, Giancarla & Luciano Berti, Lewis Cullman & Louise Hirschfield Cullman, Maria Pessino, Alexander Gilkes & Misha Nonoo, Franz Burda, Elsa Sylvan, Jonathan Farkas & Somers Farkas, Joseph Kraeutler, Sarah Hasted, Sarah Hoover, Todd Bishop, Thierry Barbier-Mueller. 

The Byrd Hoffman Watermill Foundation thanks LVMH: Moët Hennesy. Louis Vuitton.  Beverages generously provided by Bacardi USA, Mouton Rothschild, Peroni, Izze Sparkling Juice, Perrier & Acqua Panna.  Olivier Cheng Catering and Events catered the event.  Gift bag sponsors were Dior Beauty, Make Up For Ever, IllyCaffe, Graphic Image, and Joe Fresh. 


For more information on the Watermill Center, please visit www.watermillcenter.org

For additional information please contact:
Pinki Patel  |  pinki.patel@watermillcenter.org
TJ Witham  |  tj.witham@watermillcenter.org