ROCKLAND — With no sight of spring around the corner, the dreary winter white landscape of Maine was transformed into eye candy this past Saturday night when the Farnsworth Art Museum’s Collective hosted its fourth annual BASH in the Farnsworth's Wyeth Center. Drawing inspiration from the Hindu festival of Holi, the outside of the building was coolly illuminated upward with colored lights. Inside, party-goers were treated to inspired  installations by local artists.  This year Jared Cowan of Asymmetrick Arts, Orlando Johnson of Black Hole Gallery, Alexis Iammarino and Trelawney O’Brien filled the space with artwork playing with ‘color’ as theme. The food was provided by Sugar a tree Cakes of Tenants Harbor and Café Miranda along with specialty cocktails.

Red Baraat, an eight-piece brass band from Brooklyn, New York was up for the night to provide live music. NPR recently called them "the best party band in years" and they did not disappoint. Playing Bhangra funk, the band whipped up the crowd to a frenzy as brightly colored confetti rained down on a packed house.

Scott Sell, one of the attendees said: “Throughout the winter around here, you rarely get to see all of your friends and colleagues and friendly-faces-about-town in one place. Usually, you see a few here and there on the street or at potlucks or in the lobby of the Strand. It might have well been a huge block party in the middle of summer on Saturday, with what felt like the whole of the community. And Red Baraat was beyond amazing. There was no choice but to dance the entire time. They were relentlessly funky, they didn't let up for a second. I looked around at one point and saw almost every body jumping as high in the air as they could with huge smiles on their faces. There was so much joy in that room. And although today is incredibly windy and chilly, it felt like winter officially ended on Saturday.”

Added the Farnworth’s special events manager Annie Brown, “The Wyeth Center has never before housed such a wild dance party. Candy, Indian-inspired snacks, Bollywood films and confetti rounded out the night's excitement.”

For more information on the [Collective] visit farnsworthmuseum.org.

Check out our gallery of faces and colorful settings. Photos courtesy Michael O’Neil via the Farnsworth Art Museum.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com