GCCA Thanks the Community for Their Support to the Annual Garden Party Fundraiser
The GCCA Board and staff hosted a late summer afternoon gathering with members and friends celebrating the 42 years of service GCCA has extended to the ever growing arts and ever changing cultural scene in our community. Thank you to our Sponsors, Members, Donors and Friends and all who attended the Greene County Council on the Arts’ Annual Garden Party fundraiser recently held at the historic riverside estate, Beattie-Powers Place, on September 16. The fundraiser grossed over $10,000, helping GCCA to continue its programs connecting people of all ages to the arts in the surrounding area and developing our region as a cultural mecca. We are truly grateful. (Photo credit W.R. Manchester Photography)
The Friends of Beattie-Powers Place worked for weeks preparing the magnificent estate and lovely gardens for this festive occasion. Mother Nature played a role in providing the sunshine and blue sky, the warm breezes and a dramatic view of the Hudson River and surrounding landscape.
Great members and friends, live music, fresh farm to table food and even a few hula hoops and kites made it a very special day for GCCA. Of course, the Garden Party would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors and donors, the GCCA Board of Directors, our dedicated staff and our ever faithful and willing volunteers.
The food was extraordinary! Maggie Landis, chef and proprietor of Maggie’s Krooked Café in Tannersville, NY, prepared a delightful and delicious buffet for our guests. Maggie’s culinary arts included designer teas, lemonades, fresh salads and roasted seasonal vegetables perfectly paired with gourmet entrees, fresh baked deserts and other healthy delights. GCCA is grateful to the local farmers who donated many of the vegetables and herbs Maggie used to prepare the feast! Boxes of freshly harvested peppers, kale, eggplant, cabbages, tomatoes (and more!) grown in the valley towns arrived at GCCA and were whisked up “The Trail” to Maggie. Thank you to Black Horse Farms, Eger Brothers Farm, Hudson Valley Harvest, Mossy Stone Farms and Story Farms. Ginsberg’s Foods, Steve Blackely Provisions and Riviera Produce also contributed to the Garden Party farm to table spread.
Rip Van Winkle Brewing and Old Klaverack Brewery had their special craft beers there, too. Dominique and Carlo DeVito proprietors of Hudson-Chatham Winery, with Tasting Rooms in Tannersville and Ghent, NY donated several hand crafted wine selections made available for our guests. No one left thirsty!
Christine and Elliot Spero performed their signature “bluesy-rock” music throughout the afternoon. Their voices and music were the perfect complement to the vibes of friends gathering on a late summer afternoon.
At 3 pm Village of Catskill President, Vinny Seeley, assisted by the lovely Mariquita Reese, took over the sound system as auctioneer and got the art patrons ready for a rousingly fun LIVE Auction! The action featured a juried selection of 15 original works by GCCA Artist Members. The chosen artists included Eugenie Barron, Paul Barton, Susan Beecher, Allen Bryan, Laura Garramone, Alexandria Gilbert, Carter Hodgkin, Erika M. Klein, Maria Kolodziej-Zincio, Mara Lehmann, Linda Nicholls, Franc Palaia, Susan Sabino, Beth Schneck and Ken Tannenbaum. The LIVE Auction was an opportunity for GCCA Artist Members to sell their work and donate a portion of the sale to GCCA, too. By the end of the auction sales reached $4050!
The Silent Auction featured a handmade quilt by Helen Deane, Sky Rider and Mid-Mountain Tour Passes donated by NY Zipline Tours, a Two-Night-Stay in the Carriage House at Pine Ridge Farm, LLC , a half-hour massage with Lenora Freese, LMT, Old Klaverack Brewery Gift Certificate and a stunning recycled sterling silver lariat by jewelry designer Saundra Messinger.
Laura Segall, GCCA Board Member extraordinaire, sold $465 in the 50/50 Raffle!
Support to GCCA will lead to more opportunities for people of all ages to engage in the arts! At 42 years strong, GCCA continues prove “Art Builds Community.”
The Greene County Council on the Arts’ Annual Garden Party is made possible through the generosity of businesses and individuals in our community. We wish to extend a thank you to our sponsors and a very special thank you to The Friends of Beattie-Powers Place for their generosity.
Thank you to 2017 Garden Party Benefactor Big Top Tent Rentals, Garden Party Sponsor Fingar Insurance, Garden Party Friends HRC Showcase Theatre and Shook Insurance/Porto Agency and Garden Party Donors Black Horse Farms, Catskill Golf Resort, Eger Brothers Farms, Ginsberg’s Foods, Hudson Valley Harvest, Maggie’s Krooked Café, Carol May and Tom Watkins, Mossy Stone Farms, Old Klaverack Brewery, Planet Arts, Riviera Produce, Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company, Steve Blackely Provisions, Story Farms, Story’s Nursery, Inc., and Swamp Angels Antiques.
Photographs of the 2017 Garden Party were taken by W.R. Manchester Photography. Thank you, Roy, for donating your valued services. A huge thank you to Maggie’s Krooked Cafe and her great crew Eric, Karlo, Chloe and Cassidy!!! Grateful thanks to our wonderful Garden Party Volunteers. “We could not have done it without you!” to Donna Christensen, Cynthia Ferriere, Helen Deane, Maceo Jones, Erika M. Klein, Susan Kukle, Andrea Porrazzo-Nangle, RitaMary Vining and the Hunter-Tannersville High School students Itzy Cruz, Ellie Hougland, Rachelle Portridge, Katie Pan, Winnie Pan and Molly Sweeney. Thank you to Garden Party event photographer super assistant Lis Stamer.
Helping out at the Upstart Festival on the same day at the same time by representing GCCA was David Hopkins and Catskill High School Students Jesse Caroline Germano (on guitar), Delia Darling and Carson Hotaling.
Thank you for your on-going support!