On Oct. 8, New York’s creative community flocked to Red Hook to celebrate the long-awaited reopening of Pioneer Works at OPEN, its Fall Benefit. The creative nonprofit had recently undergone months of renovations to make its former factory building fully accessible and fortify its roof to eventually create the city’s first free public observatory. Guests arrived to a set by DJ Black Helmet, enjoyed bites by local chefs Woldy Reyes and Tara Thomas, and perused installations by Rachel Stern and Ashcan Orchestra before a monumental performance by the Resistance Revival Chorus signaled it was time to sit for dinner by BITE Catering. Each guest was additionally treated to an editioned sculpture by artist Alejandro García Contreras. The auction raised considerable funding for Pioneer Works’ ongoing mission to support artists, musicians, and scientists while producing large-scale leftfield programming across the arts and sciences. Notables in attendance included Moses Sumney, Chris Rock, Gabriela Hearst, Hannah Gottlieb-Graham, Dustin Yellin, Gabriel Florenz, Tiffiney Davis, and more. Photos by Bre Johnson/BFA.

BY RYAN WADDOUPS

October 11, 2024