On July 30, “Voluptuous Panic,” the 18th Annual Watermill Summer Benefit, raised funds for the Center’s year-round artist residency and education programs. The event also kicked off the 70th birthday celebration of Robert Wilson. Highlights of the live auction included: Dennis Oppenheim’s sculpture Architectural Cactus #6 (2008) was sold during the live auction after Robert Wilson’s moving tribute to the late artist.

Auctioneer Simon de Pury negotiated a fierce bidding war over Marina Abramovic’s striking self portrait. In celebration of Robert Wilson’s 70th Birthday a special live auction lot of 7 commissioned portraits inspired by the artist by Laurie Anderson, Ross Bleckner, Frank Gehry, Peter Hujar, Christopher Knowles, Yoko Ono, David Salle, and 1 song written for him by Rufus Wainwright.

25 site specific Installations and performances interpreted the theme of Voluptuous Panic created by artists from around the world. All of these works were produced by the 70 artists and participants from over 2 dozen nations on site in the weeks leading up to the benefit and will be on view again to the community on August 14 for Watermill’s annual Discover Watermill day which is free and open to the public.

During dinner, People Get Ready, performed by Steven Reker, Luke Fasano, James Rickman, Jen Goma, and Eddy Crichton entertained the more than 650 dinner guests. The piece was developed as part of the Fall and Spring Residency Program at The Watermill in March of 2011 and was performed subsequently at The Kitchen in New York City.

Rufus Wainwright premiered his birthday song for Robert Wilson in front of an enthusiastic audience. Guests at the event included Robert Wilson, Ross Bleckner, Simon de Pury, Roger Waters, Alan Cumming, Klaus Biesenbach, Charles Renfro, Cindy Sherman, Richard Philips, Katie Lee, Stacy Engman, Hamish Bowles, Katharina Otto-Bernstein & Nathan Bernstein, Jamee & Peter Gregory, Francis Hayward, Lisa Anastos, Josephine Meckseper, Zaldy, Mike Furey, May Andersen, Bob Colacello, Dorothy Lichtenstein, Tatiana & Campion Platt, Beth Rudin de Woody, Anne Hearst McInerney & Jay McInerney.

ABOUT THE WATERMILL CENTER: “Watermill is a laboratory for performance founded by Robert Wilson as a unique environment for young and emerging artists from around the world to explore new ideas. Watermill draws inspiration from all the arts and cultures as well as from social, human and natural sciences. Watermill is a global community of artists. Living and working together among the extensive collection of art and artifacts lies at the heart of the Watermill experience. Watermill is a haven for the next generations of artists, supporting their work among a network of international institutions and venues that embrace new interdisciplinary approaches.”

*For more information on the Watermill Center, please visit www.watermillcenter.org