Hamptons Scene: Robert Wilson, Rufus Wainwright, Lisa Perry
Singer Rufus Wainwright and arts patron Lisa Anastos stood on the side of the road.
Nobody was allowed to enter the annual benefit for the Watermill Center, Robert Wilson’s East End retreat for artists in Water Mill, New York, until Wilson gave his okay.
The delay was brief.
Once admitted, guests made their way up a path leading to a building filled with women wearing Charlie Le Mindu wigs.
On the other side was a steamroller flattening sand, around a group of dancers coated in silver.
“It’s Berlin lite,” Wainwright said, emerging out of a glass box filled with tubes of light and fog. The artwork, “Nothing to See Here,” by Santiago Taccetti, was one of 25 created for the event.
Later, while guests dined on lamb and black bass, Wainwright sang a song in honor of Wilson’s 70th birthday.
Wilson, in a black T-shirt and khakis, ignored his party’s “fearless” dress code. The director and playwright was in the courtyard to greet guests such as Lucy de Kooning (Willem de Kooning’s granddaughter), designer Lisa Perry and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Curator of Asian Art, Alexandra Munroe. Artists present included E.V. Day, Richard Phillips and Josephine Meckseper.
Wilson helped shape the event’s performances in meetings with the artists in residence and at two dress rehearsals.
“He has a vision, he likes things in a certain way,” Andressa Furletti, a Brazilian actress, said.
Heads in Wood
The work that stopped many people in their tracks involved two men’s heads popping out of wood chips on the ground. The men, Ryan McNamara and Sam Roeck, sang “Islands in the Stream,” the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet. Some guests, preoccupied with their cameras and cell phones, stepped on them.
“Would you like a spritz?” asked Gina Sarra, a retired teacher, before dousing McNamara. Roeck asked another spectator to scratch his nose.
More than 1,000 guests attended the July 30 event, which raised $1.5 million. Many of the performances will be repeated on Aug. 14 when Watermill Center opens to the public from 3 to 6 p.m. (Admission will be free.)
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Designer Lisa Perry and daughter Samantha Perry model new Lisa Perry dresses featuring Roy Lichtenstein images. Proceeds from sales of the dresses will benefit the Parrish Art Museum.
Designer Lisa Perry and daughter Samantha Perry model new Lisa Perry dresses featuring Roy Lichtenstein images. Proceeds from sales of the dresses will benefit the Parrish Art Museum. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Lucy de Kooning, Carolyn Ramirez and Carolyn Connolly Liot. Liot home schools de Kooning and Ramirez.
Lucy de Kooning, Carolyn Ramirez and Carolyn Connolly Liot. Liot home schools de Kooning and Ramirez. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Robert Rosenkranz, CEO and chairman, Delphi Financial Group, and Alexandra Munroe, curator of Asian art at the Guggenheim.
Robert Rosenkranz, CEO and chairman, Delphi Financial Group, and Alexandra Munroe, curator of Asian art at the Guggenheim.
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robert Wilson, founder of Watermill Center, at the center's annual benefit.
Robert Wilson, founder of Watermill Center, at the center's annual benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Andrey Bartenev, an artist, with Tripoli Patterson, who has a gallery in Southampton.
Andrey Bartenev, an artist, with Tripoli Patterson, who has a gallery in Southampton. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Celerie Kemble, an interior designer, and Boykin Curry, who works in finance.
Celerie Kemble, an interior designer, and Boykin Curry, who works in finance. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Mitch Wasterlain, managing principal, Slate Realty Capital, and Christine Stanton, a board member of the Dia Foundation.
Mitch Wasterlain, managing principal, Slate Realty Capital, and Christine Stanton, a board member of the Dia Foundation. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The giggling girls on a bed of stones.
The giggling girls on a bed of stones. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Alexander Lyle climbed on a structure on the side of Watermill Center's main building.
Alexander Lyle climbed on a structure on the side of Watermill Center's main building. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Ryan McNamara, nestled in the ground, singing "Islands in the Stream."
Ryan McNamara, nestled in the ground, singing "Islands in the Stream." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Peter Coffin's "Steamroller Music Project."
Peter Coffin's "Steamroller Music Project." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
A performer in Charlie Le Mindu's "I Lost My Kid."
A performer in Charlie Le Mindu's "I Lost My Kid." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
An installation at the benefit.
An installation at the benefit. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"Insert Spoken Control Deck" by Christopher Knowles, Emanuelee Outspoken Bean and Andressa Furletti.
"Insert Spoken Control Deck" by Christopher Knowles, Emanuelee Outspoken Bean and Andressa Furletti. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Atopos Contemporary Visual Culture presented "Beware of the Woman," with Kristin Grubb Fabrizio as the woman and Thanassis Akokkalidis as the dog.
Atopos Contemporary Visual Culture presented "Beware of the Woman," with Kristin Grubb Fabrizio as the woman and Thanassis Akokkalidis as the dog. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Watermill Center
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Nico, a poodle, was Amy Schichtel's "plus one."
Nico, a poodle, was Amy Schichtel's "plus one." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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