The Thomas Moran Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Thomas & Mary Nimmo Moran studio, hosted a benefit cocktail party on Saturday, June 20th. The event was held at the home of Pietro and Katherine Nivola in Springs.
“We are happily volunteering to offer our home to attract people to donate,” Katherine Nivola said. “It’s a very worthy cause and we were very happy to be able to provide our home for this purpose.”
The Nivola property is beautifully decorated with sculptures throughout the garden, a large studio, and renovated home. The house has been in the Nivola family for years, originally owned by renowned sculptor Costantino Nivola and his wife, Ruth. The couple purchased the house and barn in 1948.
The house’s walls were adorn with two murals, which are still present in the home, that were painted by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in 1950. Richard Barons, Executive Director of The Thomas Moran Trust, said since the goal of the organization is to restore a studio, they picked the local studio of an artist from the past to hold this event at. He noted the Nivola home was a great place to start because it is such an exciting place.
The Thomas Moran Trust was established in 2008. The foundation is currently on phase two of it’s Thomas & Mary Nimmo Moran studio restoration.
“We like to do subtle benefits. We don’t like to do talks or auctions or anything, we just like to gather people who are like-mind together, have drinks and just enjoy the environment,” Barons said. “That’s why we chose something like this because it’s such a beautiful place. It’s really about people talking and enjoying why East Hampton is so beautiful.”
For more information on the renovation of the Thomas Moran Studio, visit thomasmorantrust.org.