Some people mark their 50th birthday with a personal crisis or a lavish purchase. Pioneer Works Founder Dustin Yellin made a different choice—raising a whopping $1.4 million for the organization he built from the ground up over the last 13 years.
Village Fête, as Yellin dubbed his semi-centennial, featured a cocktail hour and a seated dinner accompanied by performances by the likes of Annie & the Caldwells and David Byrne. Long-time collaborators and beneficiaries of the nonprofit arts and sciences center spoke to the power of Pioneer Works—lead sponsor Gabriela Hearst praised Yellin’s consistent vision and the pair’s ongoing partnership; artist Nate Lewis reflected on the profound influence of a 2017 residency on his practice; artist Azikiwe Mohammed highlighted the significance of the Working Artist Fellowship program; and founding team members Gabriel Florenz and Janna Levin noted the staggering 450 artists who have been nurtured by the institution. Yellin, for his part, spoke passionately about the importance of supporting creatives—especially amid a turbulent moment in the arts.
Dinner was followed by a lively afterparty—co-hosted by CULTURED—replete with tacos from Norberto Piattoni, a flowing cocktail fountain courtesy of Arley Marks, and astral readings from Joey Frank. Byrne, Claire Danes, Moses Sumney, Maggie Rogers, Darren Aronofsky, and more crowded the dancefloor, which was soundtracked by sets from DJs Chances with Wolves and Fauzia.
Yellin gracefully shared the spotlight as the night’s festivities unfolded—and the community of artists, organizers, and creatives of all stripes that has assembled around Pioneer Works in its 13-year tenure basked happily in its glow.
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