Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty has teamed up with Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center in Nyack, New York, to host a Golden Age of Hollywood-themed fundraiser Oct. 6 to benefit arts education in local public schools.
In the last two years, Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty and Edward Hopper House raised about $50,000 to benefit arts education. The program has benefited over 1,000 pupils.
Sleepy Hollow high school students take part in arts education program at Hopper House.
The gala will be held at Pretty Penny, a historic 1858 Italianate Victorian home overlooking the Hudson River in Nyack and will be the party to be at this fall. It will include dinner, dancing, a martini bar and red-carpet welcome. The dress code is red carpet glamorous and black tie optional of course.
Edward Hopper’s painting of Pretty Penny.
Once owned by actress and first lady of American theater Helen Hayes, and later by comedian, actress and television personality Rosie O’Donnell, the historic home was named “Pretty Penny,” supposedly for the amount it cost to buy and maintain it.
Hayes and her playwright husband, Charles MacArthur, moved into the home in 1932 during the Golden Age of Hollywood and entertained Marilyn Monroe, Rosalind Russell, Katharine Hepburn, Cole Porter, Laurence Olivier, Vivian Leigh, John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ed Sullivan, Madonna and President and Mrs. Reagan, among other celebrities.
Katharine Hepburn partied there.
Located at 235 North Broadway in Nyack, the home is currently listed for sale by Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty for $4.45 million.
Pretty Penny as it is today.
Pretty Penny also has the distinction of being painted by Edward Hopper, who is widely acknowledged as one of the most important painters of 20th century America. It was the only one of his paintings ever commissioned. It now is in the collection of the Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts – Hayes’ alma mater.
Speaking of his firm’s support of Edward Hopper House, Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty, said he believes in the importance of art education, “for both the emotional and educational benefits” it can provide young adults, and for its influence on the way they appreciate not only art, but anything aesthetic for the rest of their lives.
“Funding for arts education has unfortunately been cut back through the years, and we believe this curriculum is important in creating a confident, well-rounded individual – or maybe even the next Edward Hopper!”
Strawtown elementary school students take part in Hopper House art program.
“The Hudson Valley has a rich history of nurturing not only great artists but also free, independent thinkers who aren’t afraid to think out of the box. We have proudly served the Hudson Valley community for more than 33 years and are committed to nurturing our future generations.”
The program’s curriculum is focused on the recurrent themes and distinctive aesthetics of Edward Hopper’s work and its place in American art. Led by an artist-in-residence at the school, each program session includes an introductory classroom lesson, a visit to the Edward Hopper House and a classroom lesson following the visit.
The Arts Education Program initially was funded in 2016 with proceeds from a fundraiser sponsored by Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty that benefited Nyack Public Schools, Nanuet School District, Clarkstown Schools, East Ramapo Schools, South Orangetown Middle and Sleepy Hollow School District.
“The generosity of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty has allowed the Edward Hopper House to create and sustain a powerful arts education program,” said Jennifer Patton EdD, executive director of Edward Hopper House. “Touching the lives and supporting the creativity of over 1,000 students has been made possible by this empowering partnership.”
Ellis said Pretty Penny is the “ideal venue” to celebrate art history, given its special connection to Edward Hopper as well as the current owner, art dealer Graham Arader, owner of Arader Galleries in New York City, a leading dealer and auction house of rare maps, prints, books and watercolors of the 16th through 19th centuries.
“As the culture of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty is built around the Sotheby’s Auction House, which showcases objects and art of exceptional quality and trends, leading this event is a natural fit for us,” he said.
Limited tickets are available. For more information, email hollywoodgalainfo@ gmail.com.
According to Nancy Bashian Bunin, Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty director of business development and a licensed real estate broker in New York and New Jersey, additional sponsorships this year are being provided by the Nyack Teachers Association and Festoon, with funds allocated to school partnerships already earmarked from Orange and Rockland. Bunin also serves Edward Hopper House as a trustee.
Like seeing the beauty of Winter but not being cold? Then a sightseeing cruise is for you. 
Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty and 
I recently was made aware of just how gifted this area is when I had the pleasure of attending an event featuring the renowned artist and Palisades, New York, resident Sean Scully. “Sean Scully in Conversation with Ken Carbone” was held on Oct. 11 as part of the award-winning Palisades People Sunday Symposia series, presented by the 