Robert Wilson's Watermill Summer Benefit 2009

Robert Wilson's Watermill Summer Benefit 2009
David Nadal, producer and Elga Wimmer reporter of VVH-TV brings us behind the scenes at The 16th Annual Watermill Summer Benefit was held on Saturday, July 25, and brought together the worlds of theater, art, fashion, design and society for an evening "Inferno."

The dress code this year was "Flaming," and many attendees sported impish and devilish horns, tails, red outfits and flaming enthusiasm for the Center.

Benefit artists and residents from 26 different countries were participants this year, including the Riverbed Theater, En Tzu Chang, Jam Wu, Shun Chu Chen, Chinen Jung Lin, Yung-Hsien Chen and Chu-Wang Chou from Taiwan, Sue de Beer and C Ryder Cooley from the U.S., Yourgos Souremellis and Stephanos Droussiotis from Greece, Yochai Matos from Israel and Sophia Jones from the UK.

The artists presented over 10 installations and performances that each interpreted this year's theme and brought guests closer to 'Inferno.' Dance music was spun by celebrated DJs "A Touch of Class" after the auction, a special aerial performance by Watermill resident artist C Ryder Cooley was scheduled to be held in the dining tent. Fire performances by Todd Robbins held guests spellbound.

During cocktails, guests were treated to a large tent filled with silent auction works of art, as well as entertained by the various performance artists and installations, making for an evening of charged creativity and establishing an involvment with both the works on view, as well as the performance pieces. Given the vastness of the grounds an immediate sense of intimacy was nonetheless evident in the hushed tones and quiet viewership among the guests.

As this is the 16th year the Byrd Hoffman Watermill Center has hosted this benefit, it is both refreshing and rewarding that the Center consistently makes each year's event a treat for the senses. Works on view and performance pieces never seem to disappoint or become redundant, and given the current economy, the Center appeared mindful of both quality and affordability of pieces available for sale, providing another bravo year for those who desired to get close to the flames, but not burned.

For more info contact the Robert Wilson Watermill Center:
www.watermillcenter.org

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