Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1536166
CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW Sharmistha Ray's intergalactic space unicorn: all systems go!, 2024, at Arrival art fair; a guest room at Doctor Sax House; Marni rattan mini bag; Chanel Square sunglasses Marni rattan mini bag; Chanel Square sunglasses THE BERKSHIRES The Berkshires' relationship to the arts has always put an emphasis on performance, from world-class al fresco concerts at Tanglewood to the off-Broadway realness of the Williamstown Theatre Festival. See this: A new art fair, Arrival, will test the waters this summer to measure the power of local collector appetites. For an upstart with an emphasis on mid-career and emerging offerings, Arrival boasts an impressive list of galleries. Think: objet d'art by Katie Stout and the rest of the R & Company crew; San Francisco's Jessica Silverman gallery, which will show works by Andrea Bowers; and Praise Shadows, with work by Sharmistha Ray, among others. Stay here: If it's an adults-only affair, we recommend 33 Main, which maintains the area's low-key elegance. Or you can slip into the Gilded Age of local hero Edith Wharton at Doctor Sax House, a boutique hotel with bed-and-breakfast charms. Pack that: Picnics are a Berkshires tradition that shouldn't be taken lightly: Raid Rubiner's Cheesemongers and hit the trail. Swimming holes and verdant vistas await. P H OTO BY M I C H E L Z I EG L E R , C O U R T E S Y O F T H E A R T I S T A N D A S P E N A R T M U S E U M ; C O U R T E S Y O F P R A DA . P H OTO BY M A R I A B A R A N OVA /C O U R T E S Y O F T H E WAT E R M I L L C E N T E R ; C O U R T E S Y O F B OT T EG A V E N E TA , M I U M I U . C O U R T E S Y O F T H E A R T I S T A N D P R A I S E S H A D O W S A R T G A L L E R Y ( R AY ) ; P H OTO BY T R I C I A M C C O R M AC K ( D O C TO R S A X H O U S E ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F C H A N E L , M A R N I FROM ABOVE An installation of Indonesian house posts at The Watermill Center; Bottega Veneta Blink mules; Miu Miu Trick leather charm THE HAMPTONS During the pandemic, the popularity of the East End—from the Hamptons to all the way to the North Fork—spiked, and still hasn't abated. With this wave of life came a strengthened art world and beloved local institutions, such as the performance art–driven The Watermill Center and the expansive Parrish Art Museum, bolstering their Boards. The foundation of this community is the Hamptons' independent gallery scene, which is anchored by long standing residents, such as Harpers (founded by Harper Levine) and Eric Firestone. See this: One of the most exciting tentacles of this sprawling and privileged community is Max Levai's The Ranch in Montauk, which stages immersively sized exhibitions and attracts Page Six–worthy gossip. Read up about the scandals and then make up your own mind. Stay here: Famously a difficult place to find a great hotel, the area produces a new contender for the title every summer. This year, Three Ducks in Westhampton shows a lot of promise, with minimalist design and a focus on integration with the land, including farm-to-table dining options and an on-campus dahlia stand. Pack that: For a post-ocean dip into the art museum, a kitten-heel sandal makes for the perfect summer click-clack. THE During to all the wave of such as expansive of this anchored Harper Indonesian Center; mules; charm CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Nairy Baghramian's Jupon de Corps, 2023, at the Aspen Art Museum; Prada runway sunglasses, and Re-Nylon rain jacket ASPEN A city for those who embrace a Swiss medspa's definition of wellness, Aspen's approach to the arts is equally goal-focused. This philosophy translates into an abundance of TED talk–like programming, offering attendees a more intimate interaction with the artists and curators at the forefront of today's conversations. See this: Summer brings a new summit to the mountainous town. AIR, a global gathering and invitation- only retreat, is the $20-million brainchild of the Aspen Art Museum; its headliners read like a dream dinner party, with André 3000, Matthew Barney, and Mati Diop in attendance. Stay here: The Little Nell has long reigned supreme thanks to its storied coziness, but the Mollie, a boutique venture that opened last year, is making a compelling case to shake things up. And Michelin agrees: the hotel earned a Michelin Key last fall. Pack that: Forget the mountain cowboy schtick and opt for ski-coded sunnies and sporty accessories.