On Saturday, July 25, The Byrd Hoffman Watermill Foundation raised over $1.9 million in its Circus of Stillness… the power over wild beasts Annual Summer Benefit and Auction at the Watermill Center.
All funds will go to support The Center’s year-round Residency Program, International Summer Program, and Educational Initiatives that provide artists with the tools to further develop their artwork.
Artistic Director Robert Wilson hosted the event which welcomed over 1,200 distinguished guests. The event honored Inga Maren Otto who has been an international philanthropist and long-time supporter of The Watermill Center. The event hosted performances by Sierra “Rosie” Casady of CocoRosie, a collaborative art installation by future resident artists Cirkus Cirkör, a sculpture by acclaimed artist Daniel Arsham, and over two dozen site-specific artworks by the 2015 International Summer Program artists alongside works of renowned artists Cleo Peterson, Basco Vazko, Gary Garay, and Radamés ‘Juni’ Figueroa. In addition to the plethora of works on view, silent and live auctions hosted by veteran auctioneer Simon de Pury gave the audience the opportunity to purchase artwork by renowned and emerging artists such as: Marina Ambramovic, Uta Barth, Annie Leibovitz, María Magdalena Compos-Pons, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Among the guests of The Watermill’s event were Daniel Arsham, Brooke Sheilds, Nicole Miller, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot, Rufus Wainwright, and Roger Waters.
