SOCIAL SCENE: Southampton Arts Center Raises Over $450,000 at 5th Annual SummerFest

Southampton Arts Center (SAC) raised over $450,000 to support its exhibition and programming at its 5th Annual SummerFest benefit, held on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The amount raised was a record for the Southampton Village culture center.The benefit honored architect, art collector and arts patron Peter Marino, with its Champion of the Arts Award.

The Southampton resident is currently exhibiting a selection of his collection at SAC in "Counterpoint: Selections from the Peter Marino Collection." The exhibition remains on view through September 23, 2018. At the Opening Reception in July 2018, Marino announced he was creating a permanent public home to exhibit his collection in Southampton Village, next door to the Southampton Arts Center. Click here to read more.

“We are truly honored to be exhibiting such an incredible curation of works from Peter’s collection at SAC this summer, and further to have him as our new neighbor at 11 Jobs Lane,” SAC Executive Director Tom Dunn stated in a SummerFest announcement. “It’s merely the beginning of what we believe will be a fruitful relationship - deeply fostered in bringing the best possible cultural content to the community of Southampton and beyond.”

Peter Marino and Eteri Chkadua. Courtesy of Southampton Arts Center.

Marino's iconic fashion sensability was celebrated at SummerFest through waitstaff who dressed entirely in black and donned dark aviator sunglasses and biker hats. Circulating among the guests, they passed wine and hors d’oeuvres with Watermelon Cosmopolitans and Kombucha Highballs offered by roaming bartenders.

Waiters at SHAC's 5th Annual Summerfest Benefit

Servers at SAC's 5th Annual Summerfest Benefit, inspired by Marino’s iconic attire. Courtesy of Southampton Arts Center.

Decorative touches were added by Gocha and Eteri Chkadua’s one-of-a-kind, neon table sculptures to the festive occassion. Additionally, North Fork chalk artist Kara Hoblin invited guests to write what they're thankful in chalk. Wrapping up the cocktail hour with dramatic flair, American-Spanish artist Domingo Zapata created an interactive painting. The work, along with his iconic Love Panda, is up for auction through Paddle8 until September 13, 2018.

Live painting by American-Spanish artist Domingo Zapata. Courtesy of Southampton Arts Center.

In addition to creative drama, SummerFest is known as a culinary event.

Attendees savored signature dishes from celebrated chefs on the East End including lobster rolls from EMP Summer House and Insalata di Polpo and Cubette di Manzo from Sant Ambroeus. Culinary contributions were also offered by Boa Thai, Hamptons Farms Social Eatery, Janet O’Brien Caterers, Juice Press, Kalamazoo/Plessers, Le Charlot, Little Red, Maison Vivienne, Red Bar, Saaz, Sant Ambroeus, Topping Rose House, Union Cantina and others.

Lobster rolls from EMP Summer House. Courtesy of Southampton Arts Center.

SummerFest was well attended, according to SAC. Guests included Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Hilary Geary Ross, Peter and Nejma Beard, Christine and Steven Schwarzman, Bob Colacello, Lisa Dennison, Eric Fischl and April Gornick, Dorothy Lichtenstein and Hal Buckner, Nina Garcia, Holly Petersen, Lisa and Jimmy Cohen. Attendees included Jean and Martin Shafiroff, Both Roth, Jill Braufman and Dan Nir, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Kara Ross, Southampton Village Mayor Michael with Ellen Irving, Tiffany and Claus Moller, J. Whitney Stevens and others.

The event was chaired by Alex Roepers and Simone and David Levinson.