The 24th annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit & Auction, this year with the theme “Fly into the Sun,” will honor artist and performer Laurie Anderson and actress Isabelle Huppert in tribute to the late musician Lou Reed.
The benefit will feature installations placed throughout the Watermill Center’s 8.5-acre grounds established by founder and artistic director Robert Wilson, curated in tribute to his exceptional life and work. Following the evening’s dinner, Ms. Anderson will perform “The Wildebeests,” a poem with musical accompaniment. A surprise performance is planned as well.
Artists contributing works to the auction are Lindsey Adelman, Matthew Benedict, Carlos Bunga, Saint Clair Cemin, Raul de Nieves, Annie Leibovitz, Hani Rashid, James Rosenquist, Lucien Smith, Paul Thek, Rosemarie Trockel and Carrie Mae Weems.
All funds raised at the event will support the Water Mill Center’s year-round artist residency and education programs that provide a unique environment for young and emerging artists to explore and develop new work.
The “Fly into the Sun” benefit and auction will be held on Saturday, July 29, from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Watermill Center. Tickets start at $650 for cocktail hours between 6 and 8 p.m., and $1,500 for dinner tickets. Tables for 10 start at $15,000. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit watermillcenter.org.