The Watermill Center‘s 21st Annual Benefit and Auction—one of the most anticipated events of the Hamptons social calendar—exceeded expectations this year with a bazaar-inspired evening of drama and spectacle. Guests entered the premises through a wooded pathway transformed by Annick Lavalee-Benny’s breathtaking cloud installation, passed through an obtrusively rocky room (we witnessed at least one high-heeled guest take a spill) which featured the musical stylings of Jim Jarmusch, and finally emerge on the other side to a flurry of photographers and a line of silver platters bearing custom cocktails.

27 other site-specific performance installations helped breathe life into the eight acre campus, which guests explored at their leisure. The spirit of performance was inescapable, and witnessing otherwise strange activity quickly became par for the course. While attendees mingled, a shirtless man scaled the facade of the building amidst silver streamers. In the woods, several spaghetti-headed minions payed homage to their leader, a friendly monster entirely covered in what appeared to be pasta. Meanwhile, a woman adorned in just a crown of flowers emerged from a hole in the ground to sing opera.

Watermill Artistic Director Robert Wilson‘s video portraits of Lady Gaga (who was unfortunately physically absent this year) were also on view. After cocktails, guests were seated for dinner and an auction conducted by the legendary Simon de Pury, featuring works by Robert Wilson, Frank Gehry, Anselm Keifer, and Ran Hwang. The night came to an end with dancing, desserts, and several last-minute bids at the silent auction.