Visual Art & Artists
Upcoming Events
It is time to rethink everything you thought you knew about pirates. Join Thymaya Payne, as he presents a screening of his documentary film, “Stolen Seas,” which follows pirate translator and negotiator Ishmael Ali, tells the story of 13 powerless men trapped on a ship, and explores why their captors feel justified in their tyranny. After the screening, there will be a Q&A with the acclaimed writer and filmmaker.
The Weight of Water is the title of a site-specific work by Christine Sciulli, currently on view as part of our exhibition, Space – Sight – Line. Join us as Sciulli uses the discussion of the work to present a public dialogue that explores the work’s themes and inspiration, dealing notably with race, the history of slavery on the East End, and its pernicious wake. The Conversation includes presentations by Meghan McGinley, Director of Education at Sag Harbor Cinema, in addition to local educators, Carrie Clark and Cara Nelson, and New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. Senator Sanders will make a special appearance via Zoom to share his work on reparations. A Q&A with all participants will follow the discussion.
Join us for an artist talk with Jordan Seaberry! A painter, organizer, legislative advocate, and educator, Seaberry’s work is built on compressions of history between his current legislative work and the story of his family’s migration, fleeing a lynching in Mississippi. Most recently, Seaberry has completed a body of mixed-media paintings and sculptures developed in conversation and collaboration with terminally ill hospice patients. On view at the Newport Art Museum, We Live Until explores the topics of grief, life, and death, and how they relate to a larger conversation about human rights and social justice. We invite the community to listen and reflect as Seaberry discusses his practice, recent works, and their relation to current legislative efforts. Seaberry is one of our June artists-in-residence.
Join The Church’s first excursion: Creativity in the wild! Venture out from our beloved Long Island South Fork to discover the beauty of our neighboring North Fork community across the sound. Take a joyous morning boat or bus ride from Sag Harbor to Catapano Dairy Farm in Southold, a small goat farm and home to award-winning goat cheese. Guests are welcome to explore the property and set up alongside Eric Fischl and April Gornik to sketch animals, plants, flowers, or whatever inspires them, using the farm and its surroundings as a catalyst for creativity! All skill levels of drawing are welcome, from complete novices to total professionals. All supplies, including sketchbooks, pencils, and chairs, will be provided. Please bring the necessary clothing/accessories for sun protection. Before departing for lunch, our guests have the opportunity to make new four-legged friends as they are invited to participate in Catapano’s Goat Cuddling!
Next, the group will enjoy lunch at Noah’s in Greenport, consisting of three courses that incorporate the bounty of the East End. After lunch, we’ll venture to the Land Craft Garden Foundation in Mattituck, where guests will be given a private tour of the foundation’s current sculpture exhibition, Sculpture in the Garden 2024: Jose Pardo. Following the sculpture tour, the group will be given an exclusive tour of Ugo Rondinone’s private garden and artist studio.
The guests will then visit Mattituck Mushrooms where guests will be led on a brief tour, welcomed to find inspiration for sketching, and able to peruse the shop’s inventory for any and all their mushroom needs! The group will then depart for home by bus, concluding their trip at The Church.
Quincy Flowers’s novel-in-process, Canebrake is about moving beyond social and political limitation into unknown territory, preserving ancestral knowledge while crafting a new legacy, yearning for connection with the likeminded, and the staggering reality of isolation as the price of success.
Join us as the Brooklyn-based writer discusses his historical inspirations for the work and gives us the rare opportunity to hear excerpts before its completion. After the reading, the floor will open up for a lively Q&A
The Church’s Late Night Open Studio is back! LNOS is a casual and no-pressure environment for artists of all types to gather and make art together. The Church is passionate about welcoming artists to its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection. Join us for the evening where artists of all mediums are invited to join, socialize, listen to music, and work on any projects, whether past or current. It’s a hang-out! Come break out of your solitary studio and make art at The Church!
The Church welcomes the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) as our presenting partner in an exciting collaboration centering on Black creativity. Kevin Young, the Andrew W. Mellon Director of NMAAHC, joins us for three intimate and thought-provoking dialogues with artistic visionaries. More information on the next two sessions, including dates and speakers coming soon.
In this inaugural discussion, Kevin will be joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Colson Whitehead. Colson Whitehead spent his formative years in Sag Harbor, an experience that informed his 2009 book Sag Harbor.
All speakers for the series will have significant ties to the community as this program connects deeply with The Church’s mission of ‘fostering creativity on Eastern Long Island’ and ‘honoring the history of Sag Harbor as a maker’s village,’ exploring the rich creative contributions of African American visionaries who share profound personal or professional histories with our community.