On Saturday, July 22nd LongHouse Reserve hosted a MidSummer Dream-themed evening at their annual Summer Benefit honoring the joyful creativity of artist Mary Heilmann and the literary genius of A. M. Homes. A pop-up of trapeze aerialists, and acrobats, stilt walkers, musicians, dancers, a horse rider, roamed the 16 acres of gardens and included a merman in the pool. The enchanted evening included new works by Wyatt Kahn and Fitzhugh Karol (both in attendance), loans from Daniel Arsham and Ai Weiwei, as well as permanent works by Buckminster Fuller, Sol LeWitt, Yoko Ono, and more. The evening raised over $650,000.
Gala Chairs Dianne Benson, Cindy Sherman, and Robert Wilson, Art Chairs Pamela Willoughby, and George Negroponte, with LongHouse Board of Trustees, greeted friends and supporters – including Alice Aycock, Candace Bushnell, Rosanne Cash, Renee Cox, Bill T. Jones, Laurie Lambrecht, Sophie Chahinian and Robert Longo, Lisa Perry, and G.E. Smith.
The 16 acres of LongHouse were created by world-renowned textile designer and weaver Jack Lenor Larsen (1927-2020). The meandering garden rooms and paths create a natural composition of permanent and temporary works by well-known and up-and-coming artists. The composition is alive and always in flux creating a space where one can always wonder and wander. Works by Yoan Capote, Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono, Sui Jinguao, and Willem de Kooning can be found in the permanent collection.
LongHouse Reserve is a 16-acre integrated environment created by artist, collector, and world-renowned textile designer and weaver Jack Lenor Larsen (1927-2020) with a mission to inspire living with art in all forms. Over the past two years, LongHouse has transitioned from a founder-led to a board and staff-led public institution, serving the community with vast open space, and programs in art, nature, and wellness, providing a sanctuary for Long Island and beyond.
The sculpture garden features more than 60 outdoor works—including permanent collection works by Yoan Capote, Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono, Sui Jinguao, and Willem de Kooning, and seasonal loans from artists such as Wyatt Kahn, Maren Hassinger, and Ai Wei Wei—encourages exploration and contemplation for new and repeat visitors alike. As of this year, the garden is fully open to the public for education and enjoyment, with the next chapter of activating Larsen’s home (a modernist structure based on the Shinto Shrine at Ise) and the extensive collections.
