Artpark & Company fosters a transformative world of artistic engagement that explores the human experience, cultivates creativity, and encourages curiosity. Our work is informed by a long tradition of discovery, an expectation of artistic excellence, and an awareness of the inspiration of singular natural splendor.
Located at the birthplace of Niagara Falls, and situated on traditional indigenous lands of many nations, Artpark & Company honors the historic legacy on which it was created, supporting the evolution of the arts and its role as a cultural leader, aspiring to a progressive future. We embrace a philosophy that Art, Culture, and Nature can harmoniously coexist and inspire. We advocate for every art, both known and not yet known, as created in public by diverse artists, often with assistance from their audience, attracted by the discovery, learning, and exploration that the arts encourage.
Each new visit to Artpark brings excitement, curiosity, and renewed perspectives.
Tonight's gala and auction supports the ongoing artistic and educational work that Artpark & Company is committed to. Each year, Artpark hosts dozens of educational events and programs for children throughout Western New York, as well as outreach programming for individuals with disabilities through our Artpark Bridges program. Your support tonight will support the ongoing work of these programs, as well as all other artistic programs hosted each season at Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park.
Thank you again for your contributions and support.
About our Performers
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo: In a pop culture world defined by its perpetual changes, the partnership of singer songwriter Pat Benatar and producer-musician Neil Giraldo has been a potent, steadfast union that has soared to the top of the charts and into fans’ hearts on their own terms. Her staggering vocals and take-no-prisoners attitude, along with his trailblazing artistry as a guitarist, producer and songwriter, forged the undeniable chemistry and unique sound that created eternal rock hits including “We Belong,” “Invincible,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” Promises In The Dark,” “We Live For Love,” “Heartbreaker” and “Hell Is For Children.”
Their stunning achievements are a testament to their vision. Together, Benatar and Giraldo have created two multi-platinum, five platinum and three gold albums, as well as 19 Top 40 hits. They have sold over 36 million records worldwide and have won an unprecedented four consecutive GRAMMY® awards. They have also been feted with three American Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award, a 2008 induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, and most recently have become Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees.
Amy Gordon // Live Auction Host
Amy G is an Olivier Award winning actor/comedian/singer who has performed in 46 countries.
She can be seen as HyperFit Holly in Saint X, a Hulu original TV series, in Tyler Perry’s “A Fall From Grace”, and other TV shows like “Bull”, “Extrapolations”, and “The Undetected”. Big Time, the sitcom pilot she wrote and produced garnered her awards for Best Comedy, Best Pilot and Best Actress. Amy G. was the first and only woman ever to lead Lincoln Center’s legendary Big Apple Circus as a solo comedian.
Brian Milbrand // Projection Artist
Brian Milbrand is a multidisciplinary artist. He has created videos and films for theater, starting with his groundbreaking work with The Real Dream Cabaret. Since that time, he has worked with numerous theaters over the past 20 years, including Theater of Youth, Kavinoky Theater, Torn Space Theater, Irish Classical Theater, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra among many others. Milbrand’s media art has been shown at the Venice Biennale, Museum of Modern Art, Scope New York Art Fair, PS 122, the Richmond Moving Image Co-op, Artists Television Access, the Athens International Film & Video Festival, the Detroit Film Center, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Brian’s films and videos have been shown in Buffalo at Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Squeaky Wheel & the Carnegie Art Center. Brian was assisted by Buffalo State College students Noah Brisky and Lisa Czapla.
Nick Ceppaglia // Sound Editor
Nick Ceppaglia is a recent graduate of Ithaca College specializing in Sound Recording Technology, currently working as a remote employee for Georgetown Masters, a Grammy award-winning mastering studio in Nashville, TN. He has recorded, mixed, mastered and released 3 albums of his own as well as collaborated on a variety of other projects in both music and film that display a wide variety of styles and genres.
Thank you to our event sponsors!
*Logos are meant for educational purposes only.