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A Night in Havana- Post Event Press Release

Havana Committee Photo

Havana Committee for the “A Night in Havana” fundraiser (photo credit: MEC Images LLC); from left to right: Samantha King, Sarah Hering, Fatou Niang, Mary Beaudry, Jenny Wellenius, Arianne Faber Kolb, Lisa Brawn, Elizabeth Russell, Eleanor Flatow, Rebecca Stedman, Serena Gillespie, Stacey Essex, Barbara Calaba, Jacqueline Dorman, Catharine Sturgess, Karla Rimmer, Elizabeth Deluca, Nanna White. Not photographed: Silvia Baldini, Eileen Boyd, Carolyn Corcoran, Erin Gaudreau, Sarah Haddad, Megan Hammer, Sandra B. Johnson, Laura McDaniel, Amy Weber Reid, Amy Sheffield, Kendall Sneddon, Sue Stone.

The Carriage Barn Arts Center
first inaugural benefit “A Night in Havana
WoWs with CUBAN ART & Music

NEW CANAAN, Conn. (May 19, 2014) – The Carriage Barn Arts Center’s first inaugural benefit “A Night in Havana” was attended by a sold-out crowd on Saturday, May 17, 2014. The evening featured Cuban food, mohitos and an outdoor cigar bar with aged rum. Guests were serenaded and salsaed with a super live performance by Manchado, an Afro-Cuban Jazz band. Manchado is comprised of local Fairfield County musicians (Rick Reyes, Cyrus Madan, Jesse Gibbon, Rich Zurkowski, Johnny Durkin, Rob Somerville and Marcos Torres) who tour with Deep Banana Blackout, Allman Brothers Band, John Scofield, Kung Fu and Martin Sexton. When not on tour, these musicians also teach music locally to many of our own New Canaan children.

The evening showcased the Absolut Kuba! exhibition: the Terri and Steven Certilman collection of contemporary Cuban art on view at the Carriage Barn Arts Center that began with the Private Sponsor & Patron Party on April 23 and will run through June 1, 2014. This exhibition features works by emerging and established Cuban contemporary artists. Notable exhibition guests and participants include featured Cuban artists Harold Lopez and Hector Frank (on his first trip to the United States). For more information: www.carriagebarn.org.

“Supporting ‘A Night in Havana’ and the Carriage Barn Arts Center in general is important to William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty and me because the Carriage Barn is part of what makes New Canaan so unique! Right in the heart of Waveny Park, the Carriage Barn brings free New York quality exhibits and artists to New Canaan. It is one of the hidden treasures of our community that attracts New Canaanites, surrounding town visitors and New Yorkers alike.” – Fatou Niang, Premier Sponsor & Realtor, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Real Estate

“The night was electric!  From the wonderful salsa music to the high quality works of Cuban art gracing the walls, to the good cheer of the guests — all in all, a fine Saturday night.  I had a wonderful time at “Absolut Kuba!” and toast the Havana Committee and the Directors, Arianne Kolb and Eleanor Flatow, for our beloved Carriage Barn Arts Center.” – Laura Einstein, Curator and Lecturer, Fine Arts

“On behalf of the New Canaan Society for the Arts, Inc. we would like to sincerely thank our generous sponsors, donors, guests and Havana Committee for making “A Night in Havana” a tremendous success. Your support raised a significant source of funding to bring to the public high quality exhibitions and collections, expanded educational programming (adults and children), and Carriage Barn & Gallery capital improvements. The Carriage Barn Arts Center is free and open to the public, creating content to enrich and inform.” – Serena Gillespie, President, Board of Trustees, New Canaan Society for the Arts, Inc.

William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty was the Premier Sponsor of “A Night in Havana” with the direct support of Fatou Niang and William Larkin, Realtors (www.williampitt.com). Official Sponsors also included: the Stedman Family and Fitwell Group (www.fitwellgroup.com).

Generous In-Kind Donors were: Bob La Banca & Impression Point Printing (www.impressionpt.com), MEC Images, LLC (www.mecimages.com), Megan Hammer Graphic Design Solutions (www.mhammerevents.com), Moffly Media (www.mofflymedia.com), NewCanaanite.com (www.newcanaanite.com), Red Grapes Wine & Spirits in New Canaan, Slocum & Sons (www.slocumandsons.com), and Strawberry and Sage (www.strawberryandsage.com).

Tremendous thanks to our Silent Auction Donors: The Avenue Gallery on Main in Norwalk, Barbara & Victor Calaba, Carrie Brady Photography (www.carriebradyphotography.com), Chef Luis Restaurant (www.chefluis.net), Culinary Works (www.culinaryworks.com), The Glass House (www.theglasshouse.org), David Gulden (www.davidgulden.com), G Albert Men’s Groomers (www.galbertmensgroomers.com), Julia Ballentine Fine Jewelry (www.ballentinefj.com), Kramer Portraits (www.kramerportraits.com), Lanphier Day Spa (www.lanphierdayspa.com), The Linen Shop (www.the-linen-shop.com), New Canaan Car Spa, New Canaan Olive Oil (www.newcanaanoliveoil.com), Karla & Adam Rimmer, Rosie in New Canaan (www.rosiecatering.com), SpaceNK (www.spaceNK.com), Stacey & Scott Essex, the Stedman Family, Catharine & Jeffrey Sturgess, That Personal Touch (www.tptengravers.com), United States Tennis Association (www.usta.com), and Jenny & John Wellenius.

We would like to recognize and thank the Havana Committee whose dedicated commitment is responsible for “A Night in Havana’s” success. The Havana Co-Chairs are: Barbara Calaba, Stacey Essex, Serena Gillespie and Rebecca Stedman. Havana Committee Members are: Silvia Baldini, Mary Beaudry, Eileen Boyd, Lisa Brawn, Carolyn Corcoran, Elizabeth Deluca, Jacqueline Dorman, Erin Gaudreau, Sarah Haddad, Megan Hammer, Sarah Hering, Sandra B. Johnson, Samantha King, Laura McDaniel, Fatou Niang, Amy Weber Reid, Karla Rimmer, Elizabeth Russell, Amy Sheffield, Kendall Sneddon, Sue Stone, Catharine Sturgess, Jenny Wellenius and Nanna White.