The Parrish Art Museum welcomed over 460 guests to the Saturday Midsummer Dinner and 350 to the Friday Midsummer Dance—including artists, art collectors, curators, philanthropists, and business leaders from the Hamptons, New York City, and beyond. The 2-day outdoor event took place on July 14 & 15 at the Museum and raised over $1.2 million in support of the Museum’s programs and education initiatives.
The Saturday Midsummer Dinner honored Katharina Otto-Bernstein, Fred and Robin Seegal, plus artists Eddie Martinez, Sam Moyer, and Hank Willis Thomas—all of whom have work on view in the landmark Museum anniversary exhibition Artists Choose Parrish. In celebration of the Museum’s milestone 125th anniversary, the event was augmented by a list of legacy honorees. Those in attendance included Gale and Ira Drukier, Philip Schmerbeck from Herzog & de Meuron, Alicia G. Longwell, Michéle and Steven Pesner, and Philip Isles from The Robert Lehman Foundation. Funds raised at the annual benefit event support the Museum’s exhibitions, education initiatives, and programs.
Parrish Director Dr. Mónica Ramírez-Montagut greeted attendees, acknowledged legacy honorees, and introduced Parrish Trustees and Dinner Co-Chairs Aliya LeeKong and Deborah F. Bancroft, who presented awards to the artists and philanthropic honorees. Jennifer Wright of Christie’s led a paddle raise in support of the Museum’s programs, exhibitions, and education initiatives. Susan Meisel, the artist whose work is featured on the Parrish’s 125th anniversary commemorative poster for the Museum, addressed the audience. Ramírez-Montagut thanked guests and invited them to end the evening with dancing in the theater to music by DJ M.O.S. During the cocktail hour in the sculpture garden, a fashion presentation courtesy of Max Mara, one of the presenting sponsors, featured 10 models wearing the Resort 2024 Collection, Septem Flores.
Notable guests at the dinner included artists Alice Aycock, Nanette Carter, Jeremy Dennis, Ralph Gibson, Joanne Greenbaum, Sheree Hovsepian, Mel Kendrick, Claude Lawrence, Eddie Martinez, Suzanne McClelland, Sam Moyer, Alix Pearlstein, Ugo Rondinone, Leslee Stradford, John Torreano, Nina Yankowitz, Joe Zucker; philanthropist and author Veronica Atkins, producer Keith Barish, celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli, philanthropist Inga Maren Otto, Max Mara USA CEO Cristian Notari, director/visual artist Robert Wilson, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of Wölffer Estate Vineyard Joey Wölffer, Deborah Willis and Hank Thomas Sr., parents of artist honoree Hank Willis Thomas; Jose Tavarez, President, Bank of America New York City, Vice Chair, Head of Wealth Management Advisory; Sai de Silva, Jessica Wang, plus gallerists Robert Dimin, Connie Tilton, James Newton (Timothy Taylor), Madeline Warren (Hauser & Wirth), Joseph De Leon (Marianne Boesky), Jeannie Freilich Lisson), and Aaron Baldinger (Gladstone).
At the Friday Midsummer Dance event Co-Chairs Ivy Getty and Laurence Milstein, a Parrish Trustee, welcomed guests and introduced br0nz3_g0dd3ss and the special performance by Narcissister. Guests danced on the terrace and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and desserts by Canard, Inc., amid décor by event designer Frank Alexander, NYC.
