On Friday, June 25, The Southampton Arts Center hosted Whimsy in the Garden, which raised more than $80,000. With more than 250 guests in attendance, it was the center’s first cocktail event of the season. Guests sauntered through a sculpture garden where artist and Sag Harbor resident, Eric Fischl created his current exhibition called WHIMSY. Fischl and wife April Gornik, also an artist, are known for their philanthropic endeavors culminating in all things artistic Out East. Lite bites were provided by Acquolina and Pomp & Whimsy gin cocktails which are known for their incredible aroma while a Bossa Nova Band played in the background. The event was sponsored by Graff, Artisan Luxe Bio Beauty, Purist, and The Holly Peterson Foundation with an all butterfly motif. EARTH-Artists as Activists continued as the SAC’s current exhibition inside.
Tom Dunn, the SAC Executive Director warmly thanked guests for their attendance and mentioned the roster of events such as Friday night features, Sunday night docs and silent disco which will return on July 24th. Dunn then introduced trustee and event chair Elyn Kronemeyer who discussed that the SAC’s goal isn’t just to bring interesting and exciting exhibitions but to create programs around those exhibitions and what you can do to make a difference in the world, which was the legacy of Samuel Longstreth Parrish, the building’s original owner. In 1896 Parrish decided to build a museum to house his collection of Italian Renaissance art and reproductions of classical Greek and Roman statuary. The statuary was lit in rainbow colors for WHIMSY in the Garden. SAC mission is to build the community via it’s diversified programs not only in art but film, music, lectures and more.
Whimsy in the Garden Guests:
Steven Stolman and Rich Willkie, Marc Chiffert, Paolo Bacchini and Arnie Rosenshein, Nicole Salmasi, Peter Hallock and Craig Mowry, Rick Friedman and Cindy Wakefield, Jesse Warren and Martyna Sokol, Lydia and Rudy Touzet, Isabella De Conti Mikklilneni and Radha Mikklilneni, Cheri Kaufman & Bill Sclight, Anna Rothschild, Regina and Reiner Greeven, Elyn and Jeff Kronemeyer, Paul Travis and Mark Fichandler, Susan and David Edelstein, Fern Mallis, Lorraine De Tymowska, Joseph Liu, Jessie Zhou, Victoria Wyman, Amanda Taylor, Robin Avram, Jill Braufman and Daniel Nir, Amanda Taylor, Alex Kuczynski, Kathy and Kevin Scherer, Patty Raynes, Victoria Wyman, Kara Ross, Jean and Martin Shafiroff, Bettina Zilhka, Liliana Cavendish, Cricket and Richard Burns, Melinda Hackett and Michael Drury, Lisa Fields, Martha McGuinness and Fabian Onetti, Victoria Wyman, Rob and Helena Vahradian, Ellie Manko Libby, Charlotte and Andrew Pilaro, Sue Devitt, Stephen Squinto, Mary Slattery, Doris Castells, Paula Lajaunie-Viscogliosi, Laura Moore Tanne, Tish Rehill, Michel Sacconaghi, Paul Schorr III, Peter and Linda Talty, Nancy Zink O’Connor, and Patty Raynes.
Southampton Village Trustees included Andrew Pilaro, Joseph McLoughlin, Robin Brown (Trustee Elect), and Roy Stevenson (Trustee Elect).
Southampton Arts Center Trustees included Roberta Amon, Paul Travis, Rob Vaharadian, Whitney Stevens, Fairley Pilaro, Paula Viscogliosi, Aima Raza, Elyn Kronemeyer, Siamak Samii, Chris Smith, Kara Ross, and SAC executive director Tom Dunn.
Select Southampton Arts Center programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The SAC Summer Stage is sponsored by Primary Care and Reproductive Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. EARTH – Artists as Activists is sponsored by Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Eco programs are made possible by Dorothy and Michael Reilly. Additional sponsors include Dr. Paula Angelone and Gerald Rosengarten, Greener Smart Homes, and Southampton Inn. WHIMSY is sponsored by Hauser and Wirth, with additional support from Marlborough Gallery and James Lane Post. FILM @ SAC is sponsored by Brown Harris Stevens. KIDS @ SAC is sponsored by Investors Bank. Silent Disco is presented by Simone and David Levinson.
For more information about Southampton Arts Center, located at 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton, New York 11968, visit southamptonartscenter.org or call 631.283.0967.
