Last Sunday, art-worlders got a chance to escape from the frenzy of New York City and retreat up to Beacon, N.Y., for the Dia Art Foundation's annual spring benefit. The day-long event included a lunch in the Andy Warhol gallery, a performance by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company set again German artist Imi Knoebel's recently restored 24 Colors—for Blinky, and an exhibition walk-through with Spanish artist Antoni Tàpies. That was more than enough to lure artistic power couple Matthew Barney and Björk; home-making maven Martha Stewart; actor James Franco; dealer Gavin Brown; and artists like Keith Sonnier, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, and Robert Whitman.

Also, earlier in the month, the American Friends of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art held their annual gala, this one something of a dressier affair, at the Plaza Hotel in New York. Dealer Marian Goodman was honored with the 2009 Visionary Award, and John Baldessari with the Artist of the Year Award. Artists like Lawrence Weiner, James Rosenquist, and Zigi Ben-Haim, as well as countless other guests, turned out to show their support.

Click on the photo gallery at left to see pictures from the Dia and Tel Aviv Museum events.