“Tonight, we honor artists Kenny Scharf and Tony Bechara for careers of work that are imaginative”, said Director Carrie Rebora Barratt at LongHouse Reserve’s 2024 Summer Benefit.
“LongHouse Founder, Jack Lenor Larsen, was so creative. Our favorite quote of his is ‘be relevant, not reverent’, and I often think, what does change look like here? As I stand here looking at Kenny, I think ‘just don’t be dull’”.
“Today, like every day at LongHouse, honors and extends Jack Larson’s enduring inspiration to live with art in all forms”, said Alexandra Munroe. “So thank you Carrie, President Nina Gillman, LongHouse Trustees, Benefit Chair Anne Erni, emcee Machine Dazzle, and all of you for bringing such life, beauty, and honor to our beloved LongHouse. I’ve been asked to speak about Yoko Ono because IMAGINE is the theme of this evening’s gala. I first learned about Yoko Ono from my sister Victoria. She’d come back and forth from her ongoing schooling in New England, always bringing a new song from this group called, The Beatles. The words ‘Yoko Ono’ were the first words I learned in the Japanese language, which as some of you know, has become my life’s work. It was sort of the origin of so much in my work, but also it was the origin story of what became the history of the avant-garde in America, Japan, and around the world. John Lennon once remarked that Yoko was ‘the most famous unknown artist in the world’. Now, I often tell Yoko, as she reaches higher and higher recognition in this century, we have come a long way, baby! Yoko’s brilliance eluded the art establishment for a long time. One reason for that was her radical fluency in making art in so many different media. She broke a lot of rules, something she shared with Jack. Yoko’s generosity and optimism to make beauty and life is of course is why Jack and Yoko became friends. Yoko gave LongHouse a gift of the fantastic Play It By Trust giant chess set. She made all the pieces and squares white. What does that mean? What kind of chess player can remember that many spaces and plays? Ultimately, the opposition dissolves. Ultimately, the real victory is unity. That too is very much like Jack. LongHouse also has Yoko’s Wish Tree. A work that invites people, in Japanese Shinto Shrine tradition, to write a wish and wrap it around a branch. Yoko and Jack continue to remind us of the highest power of art; to shape our world, to make peace, to overcome opposition through beauty.”
Philanthropist Estrellita Brodsky presented the award to Tony Bechara. “Tony is an accomplished painter, who over the past nearly five decades, has devoted himself to the seemingly random but meticulously programmed language of color exploration. His paintings are reflections of an incredibly intellectual understanding of the traditions of weaving, of phenomenological theories across art histories, and ultimately succeed in challenging our very understanding of visual perception destabilized through a prescient pixelated field…He has been a dear friend, mentor, and advisor, guiding my many decisions, always telling me to say yes, with my best interest at heart. And with the great desire to pursue our common goal, to advocate and to further the arts from Latin America and its diaspora.”
Tony, accepting his award, shared “I have always loved LongHouse because it’s a perfect blend of nature and art. We all should support a place like this. It’s a treasure, not only for East Hampton, but for New York. It’s a treasure. The word magical has been used several times tonight, and I repeat it. It’s a magical place.”
“Kenny Scharf is a seriously accomplished artist and a fine human. His work is accessible to pretty much any human living. His projects are generous and inclusive, from his Brooklyn day-glo parties, to phantasmagorical parade vehicles, to KARBOMBZ, that are never for profit. He loves art and humanity, and has always had both feet in the regular world, even with dazzling art world success”, said artist Randy Polumbo. Kenny, in brevity, shared “I just love what I do. Thank you for this honor!” Kenny’s totem sculpture, TOTEMIKON, is currently on display at LongHouse.
Staying on theme, guests dressed in vibrant colors with whimsical accessories, including Daniel Arsham, Dan Brodsky, West Chin, Michele and Marty Cohen, Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, Angie Cordish, Suzi Cordish, uptowns Renee Cox, Edwina von Gal, Tony Ingrao, Laurie Lambrecht, Linda Macklowe, Mark Mennin, Jean Park, Faith Popcorn, Betsy Pinover Schiff, Lee Skolnick, Stanley Stair, Pamela Willoughby, Robert Wilson, as well as board members Patrick Amato, Louis Bradbury, Emma Clurman, Christopher Coy, Sherri Donghia, Dr. Derick T. George, Nina Gillman, Michael Jones, Mark Levine, Raisa Lopez-Rhoden, Peter Olsen, Deborah Nevins, Gael Towey, Suzanne Slesin, Linda Willett, Patti Trainor-Wrazej, James Zajac, and LongHouse President Emerita Dianne Benson.
The benefit was a dreamy garden party reimagined for this century. As guests walked in, performers dressed as flourishing plants and butterflies danced around them, with live music by Certain Moves. Aphrodise sparkling rosé was handed out from white-gloved hands through a lush garden wall. Dinner was the most radical reimagining of all; seven buffets, a raw bar, dinner under the stars (instead of a tent), and a quick program with speedy remarks. The table’s floral arrangements and bouquets for the honorees were hand-clipped by the LongHouse Board of Trustees, from the estate of Alexandra Munroe, on the morning of the benefit. LongHouse’s 16-acre garden was adorned with Paola Lenti luxury Italian furniture – armchairs, sofas, poufs, tables, and parasol umbrellas.
The curated contemporary arrangements feature natural woods, rich textures, organic color palettes, as well as weather-resistant fabrics and eco-friendly fibers, which are visually striking, durable, and sustainable. The spaces offered a special respite from the summer sun as it set, and a place to kick back and relax from all the after-party dancing. The after party, led by Junior Chair Emma Wrazej, featured dessert tables, and DJ Kristaval kept everyone dancing until the legally mandated curfew of East Hampton. The Junior Committee included Mary Kantor, Vivienne Lange, Owen McGowan, Maude Peter, Paulina Pitt, Will Pitt, Morgan Wilkins, Dakota Wrazej, and Sara Zurmuehle. The evening raised over $800,000, benefiting LongHouse’s educational programs and grounds upkeep.
The benefit’s Artsy art auction included works by Bjorn Amelan, Laurie Anderson, Alice Aycock, Tony Bechara, Mr. Star City, Liz Collins, Michael de Feo, Maryam Eisler, Eric Fischl, Mary Heilmann, Alice Hope, Laurie Lambrecht, Fitzhugh Karol, Oscar Molina, Jeff Muhs, Pat Place, Marcia Resnick, Ugo Rondinone, Toni Ross, Martha Russo, Kenny Schachter, Kenny Scharf, Bastienne Schmidt, Cindy Sherman, Kiki Smith, Agathe Snow, Clintel Steed, Suzannah Wainhouse, Mark Wilson, Robert Wilson, and Almond Zigmund.
LongHouse gratefully thanks all sponsors, including AllianceBernstein, Aphrodise, Blade Urban Air Mobility, Charleigh Charitable Trust, EPIC Insurance, Matchbook Distillery, Marders, J. McLaughlin, Northwestern Mutual, Paola Lenti, Sagg Distillery, John Shea (Senior Partner Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin, Quartararo, LLP), Topping Rose House, Wölffer Estate Vineyard, and Your Part-Time Controller.
Tony Bechara
Tony Bechara is an artist living and working in New York, who has produced a large and significant body of abstract work based on principles of color usage, organization and randomness. His paintings tackle phenomenological questions that explore historical problems associated with representation, the visual, and ultimately visibility itself. Bechara’s work is represented in numerous private and public collections. He has had solo exhibitions in New York, Washington, Miami, San Juan, Lima, Mexico and Munich. Bechara has participated in group exhibitions at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, the Whitney Biennial, Boulder Fine Arts, P.S.1, Artists Space, El Museo del Barrio and the Museum of Latin American Art in California, amongst others.
Kenny Scharf
Kenny Scharf is an American painter known for his participation in New York City’s interdisciplinary East Village art scene during the 1980s, alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Scharf’s do-it-yourself practice spanned painting, sculpture, fashion, video, performance art, and street art. Growing up in post-World War II Southern California, Scharf was fascinated by television and the futuristic promise of modern design. His works often include pop culture icons, such as the Flintstones and the Jetsons, or caricatures of middle-class Americans in an apocalyptic science fiction setting.
LongHouse Reserve
Nestled within the idyllic landscapes of East Hampton, Longhouse Reserve is a 16-acre sanctuary where the arts and nature converge, creating a haven for those seeking inspiration and serenity. Our unique venue offers curated gardens and outdoor art installations that invite individuals to embark on a journey of discovery, connecting with the beauty that surrounds us.
LongHouse Reserve was created by artist, collector and world-renowned textile designer and weaver Jack Lenor Larsen (1927-2020) with a mission to inspire living with art in all forms. Over the past two years, LongHouse has transitioned from a founder-led to board and staff-led public institution, serving the community with vast open space, programs in art, nature, and wellness, providing a sanctuary for Long Island and beyond.
The sculpture garden, featuring more than 60 outdoor works—including permanent collection works by Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono, Toshiko Takaezu, and Willem de Kooning, and seasonal loans from artists such as Maren Hassinger, Kenny Scharf, Isamu Noguchi, and Ai Weiwei—encourages exploration and contemplation for new and repeat visitors alike. As of this year, the garden is fully open to the public for education and enjoyment, with a next chapter of activating Larsen’s home (a modernist structure based on the Shinto Shrine at Ise) and displaying his extensive craft and design collections.
The mission of LongHouse Reserve is to inspire living with art in all forms. The LongHouse vision is to serve as a living case study of the ever-changing interactions between nature, people, and art. The collections, gardens, art, and programs reflect world cultures and foster a creative life. Core values of creativity, resilience, and sustainability spell out LongHouse’s intentions in the years ahead. LongHouse puts its visitors first with a pledge to inspire creativity, offering a place for respite and community in a garden that will forever flourish without chemicals or harm to nature.
LongHouse Reserve is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:30 pm until 5pm. A Membership allows you to visit throughout the season, and come early on Saturday mornings starting at 10:30 am. General admission is $20, with half-price tickets for seniors, and no charge for veterans, active-duty personnel, children under 12, and students with valid school/college ID. More information is available at www.longhouse.org.
Photo credit: 1) Rene Cox. 2) Daniel Arsham, Jacqueline Rene. 3) Morgan Wilkins, Sherri Donghia, Mary Kantor. 4) Spencer Washburn, Dr. Elisabeth George Washburn. 5) Spencer Washburn, Dr. Elisabeth George Washburn. 6) Serena Mecaj, Marcarson, Aurora Mecaj. 7) Serena Mecaj, Marcarson, Aurora Mecaj. 8) Anthony Dawson, John Wilson. 9) Anthony Dawson, John Wilson. 10) Ingrid Simmons George, Dr. Derick George. 11) Ingrid Simmons George, Dr. Derick George. 12) Marcus Dunlop, Betty Teshone, Kevin Dudley, Adam Laitsas, Ndu Okereke. 13) Marcus Dunlop, Betty Teshone, Kevin Dudley, Adam Laitsas, Ndu Okereke. 14) Natalie Monbiot, Peter Kingham. 15-16). By Longhouse.
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