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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Saturday, November 22

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Word of Mouth

About Last Weekend... Robert Wilson's Watermill Center Benefit

By Rebecca Suhrawardi Austin

Robert Wilson has a lot of friends -- like, a lot. They are the cream of the crop of the East End and always turn up in support of the famed artist's Watermill Center Benefit each year, and this year was no exception. Always a highlight of the Hamptons social calendar, it is one of my can't-miss-no-matter-what fiestas of the summer because it embodies everything I adore: summer, art and fashion.

Wilson has carved out this haven of the arts in the middle of the Hamptons and has cultivated its grounds like something from a fairy tale. In true Robert Wilson fashion, he gave us installations and performances that were at times confusing and often surreal. From 15-foot tall performers in giant, brightly-colored, cone-like contraptions to a concert in the woods featuring a humungous puppet resembling a prehistoric skeleton.

And the most interesting mixture of people always show up -- from A-list celebs to art world darlings and uber-socialites, all floating about like nymphs in this country art retreat.

I ran into jewelry designer of Subversive Jewelry and friend Justin Giunta, who was one of the Center's interns way back when, and he laughingly spilled about the days of yore under Wilson's tutelage. "This whole thing is taking me back to when I was intern here," he laughs, "I remember the [Paris Vogue] shoot, we were making sets for days and working with all these kids, and then Bob would come in a second, say one word, and direct the perfect shot."

Rachel Zoe and I had a convo about how she wished her parents, patrons of the arts, were with her because they would love it. The uber-stylist just came back from Super Saturday where she had a booth. "All of Cameron Diaz's stuff went in a second. They opened the doors at 12 her stuff was gone by 12:01."

Who else did we see? There was Rufus Wainright decked out in a fabulous gold suit sans shirt; Somers Farkas and Jamee Gregory; Kim Catrall, wearing a one-piece electric blue jumper and golden gladiators; Joe Zee; Lisa De Kooning, one of my favorite Wilson supporters; Amanda Hearst; the list could go on.

My favorite piece was the towering, rickshaw-art inspired painting that read "Watermill." Bob, if you're reading, my birthday is in October.

Comments

I would have liked to see the selection

Posted at 8:17 p.m. ET on Jul 29, 2008 by crispy

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