Southampton Arts Center held its largest benefit and culinary arts festival, SummerFest, on September 1. Honorees Helena and Rob Vahradian accepted the 2022 Champion of the Arts Award for their commitment to the arts of Southampton. Broadway star Jessica Vosk (Elphaba in “Wicked”) performed a medley of songs entertaining over 370 guests, with dinner and dancing into the morning hours.
SummerFest is SAC’s most critical fundraising initiative generating a third of SAC’s annual contributed income — allowing the continuation of its year-round world class programming while serving as a critical economic driver in the community. The event raised over $650,000.
Committee members were dressed in Bulgari jewelry while guests perused Bulgari vitrines in the bespoke lounge and enjoyed sweet treats from the dessert cart. LaLique partnered with Oscar Mora to produce and design the decor for the tables.
Guests strolled through the galleries experiencing SAC’s current exhibition, “Figures Transformed,” curated by Christina Mossaides Strassfield after enjoying signature dishes from celebrated East End restaurants. Serving as the backdrop for SummerFest, guests explored the historic grounds and galleries of 25 Jobs Lane, with artwork by Deborah Buck, Hal Buckner, and Strong-Cuevas.
“We’ve now completed our ninth season at The Southampton Arts Center. Next year that’s double digits time!” shared founding co-chair, Simone Levinson in her opening speech. “SummerFest originated as a way to have a great party to represent who we are and what we do. It is an opportunity to come together to celebrate our mission of building community through the arts.”
Following SummerFest was SAC’s first annual SummerFest After Dark party. Hosted by Alexander Hankin, Danielle Naftali, Makenzie Moon Phelan, and Andrew Warren, with event co-chairs Emira D’Spain, Julia Moshy, Noor Pahlavi, Julian Polak, Ryan Thomas Roth, and Harrison Vail. Whipshots played a pivotal role as it hyped up the party with signature milkshakes passed just in time for Grammy Nominated singer Kelis’ performance of her iconic hit “Milkshake.” Guests enjoyed their bottomless drinks, bites, and danced past 2 AM to music by DJ’s Zeke Thomas and Timo Weiland.
Honorees Helena and Rob Vahradian were joined by event chairs Sylvia Hemingway, Simone and David Levinson, Nicole and Allen Salmasi, and Aline and Tom Shapiro, as well as supporters, including Stacey Bronfman, Henry Buhl, Candace Bushnell, Lisa Dennison, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Dorothy Lichtenstein, Margie Loeb, Daniel Nir, Susan Rockefeller, The Honorable Wilbur and Hilary Ross, Kara Ross, Chuck Scarborough, Jean and Martin Shafiroff, Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall, and more.
After Dark guests included Mercedes de Guardiola, Gabi Demartino, Noriella (Nora Gjieli), Morgan Halberg, Logan Horne, Natalie Jackson, Brooke Korine, Brooks Marks, Micah McLaurin, Brooks Nader, Stephanie Nass, Preston NicholasJeff O’Donnell, Newman Parker, Erica Pelosini, Taylor Phillips, Giancarlo Purch, Kameron Ramirez, Melany Rodriguez, Nathan Romano, Sydney Sadick, Rosa Sanchez, Ally Shapiro, Duckie Thot, Blake and Elliot Tomaeno, and Michaela V.
