This program has been generously supported by the SHS Foundation in honor of its Treasurer, Sara Throne; and; Steve Pesner in honor of Michèle Pesner

We are thrilled to start the year with a dance project of historic proportions: on January 24^th, we will present the first look at a new solo being created for the Martha Graham Dance Company – to be performed by none other than Lloyd Knight, acclaimed lead dancer of the Company. Based on archival materials assembled over many years, the performance takes inspiration from a work choreographed by Martha herself in 1938. After its creation at The Church, the new solo will become a centerpiece of the Company’s repertory for 2026 – its 100^th season.

The Premiere Showing will offer audience members a first look at the choreography and music created during a one-week residency at The Church. This process brings together Lloyd Knight, composer-percussionist Stahv Danker, and choreographer Jamar Roberts for an intense collaboration with roots in the Graham legacy.

Inspired by the materials from Martha Graham Dance Company archives, Roberts will create the new solo in five days as Danker composes the music. These materials include a one-minute silent film of a man dancing a solo thought to be from Graham’s 1938 American Document, as well as poetry from that work, and some of the original musical score. Graham’s choreography was never recorded and is considered to be lost. Roberts is not charged with recreating Graham’s work, but rather, to create something completely contemporary inspired by the past.   

This performance is part of the exhibition programming of Martha Graham: Collaborations, on view January 18 – March 22. The exhibition explores the 100-year history of the company through the lens of its myriad artistic collaborations – thereby breaking down the completed work of a choreographed piece into the many creative practices it encompasses.

Dance powerhouses Kristine Bendul & Abdiel are known for their work in Broadway and off-Broadway musical theatre productions, ballet and modern concert dance, and their gender-neutral approach to ballroom partnering, which equally exchanges roles of lead and follow, with both in heels! During a weeklong Works & Process residency at The Church in Sag Harbor, Ron De Jesus will choreograph a new piece for Kristine and Abdiel, blending Adagio partnering with contemporary movement. De Jesus, who had an extensive career with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Twlya Tharp, has been recognized for his work across concert dance and musical theatre. Set to “Black Cream” by The Harold Wheeler Consort (1975), this new duet reimagines classic Adagio patterns through a modern lens—honoring the form’s history while exploring new lifts, transitions, and expressive possibilities.

Join us for a “first look” at what they’ve created together during the residency, followed by a conversation with the artists.

Come set an intention, spark your creativity, and welcome the new year with a transformative sound bath! Back by popular demand, Daniel Lauter, the much-loved musician and mediationDJ, returns to The Church to lead an enchanting and immersive experience. Attendees will be welcomed to the space with a lovely take-home mid-winter sachet gift of pine, cedar, and cinnamon as they treat themselves to a sonic journey to begin the year.

Relax in the grounding vibrations of Daniel’s fascinating sound array. Instruments include hand-selected, exquisite crystal bowls, symphonic gong, Himalayan bells, bansuri, yidaki (didjeridu), shruti, with vocal toning & healing mantras, tongue drum, rain sticks, ocarina, and other beautiful tapestries d’sound. The fascinating sonic journey is woven together by Daniel’s musicians touch of phrasing, melody, and harmonic balance.

Participants must bring their own yoga mats, cushions, blankets, and other items of comfort to sit and recline. Guests are also welcome to bring a sketchbook and/or journal to brainstorm their latest project with mind awakened and opened by the soothing sounds.

Bring a sketchbook, graphite or colored pencils, and/or pens and have a seat in the Main Gallery of The Church for a communal drawing salon led by artists and art professors Jackie Hoving and Norm Paris! This recurring program celebrates our fall exhibition Here & There: The Church’s First Churchennial while also honoring The Church’s commitment to fostering creativity on the East End. Flex your creative muscles as you draw the people around you, the space, or something that catches your eye in a meditative experience of observing and being present.

Norm, a professor at Rhode Island School of Design, and Jackie, a professor at Pratt Institute,  met as students in Sam Messer’s Yale Norfolk Summer School of Art program. It was there the couple spent time in Sam’s “drawing happenings” and were inspired by his belief in community and bringing people together through drawing. 

In alignment with The Church’s vision for a creative community, the Drawing Meetups invite participants of all skill levels to a laid-back environment with a communal spirit. Tables and chairs will be provided and participants are also welcome to find a space within the exhibition for a solo meditative drawing journey. Some graphite pencils and 8x11” paper will also be provided, though participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies. Charcoal, paints, and markers are not permitted in these sessions.

 Please note that this is a causal drawing session and not a class.

Peter Solow joins us for our final Insight Sunday of the year. An esteemed visual artist in both oil painting and drawing, Solow is also a beloved educator of the East End. Join the pedagogue for an inspiring discussion that takes a deep dive into his work Piazza Signoria, which is included in our exhibition Here & There: The First Churchennial.  

Hear how “the act and process of drawing [is] a creative, transformative, experience,” and how those ideas about the art making process are at the heart of Solow’s work. The discussion will then open to a thoughtful Q&A with the audience.

Piazza Signoria, which is part of a larger body of work known as A Field Guide to Florence, is one of the largest works in our exhibition. It can be seen during our exhibition hours, Thursday – Monday, 11 AM – 5 PM, up on our mezzanine level.

Witness the development of a new performance by artist & choreographer Matty Davis. Planned as the culmination of his residency, Davis will host an Open Rehearsal of a newly developed in-progress work, inviting the community to observe his choreographic process throughout its early stages.

Matty Davis is an artist and choreographer based in New York City. His work uses choreography as an instrument to cultivate high-stakes relationships—ranging from the interpersonal to the cosmic—that push himself, his collaborators, and his audiences to face and explore forces that drive some of the most important parts of our lives, such as trust, love, and responsibility. Marked by full-throttle physicality and inventive movement vocabularies, his performances have been described as “balancing ecstatically on the edge of life and death” (Jesse Zaritt).

Each winter, The Church hosts The East End Community Residency, a cycle in our annual artists residency program that is specifically for artists of the South Fork. During the Community Residency, we invite selected artists of the East End to work on campus at The Church to enrich and foster artistic community and dialogue. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome A.G. Duggan, Robin du Plessis, Christina Graham, Laurie Hall, Eva Iacono, and Nathalie Shepherd to join us in residence. Stop by between 1:00 – 3:00 pm on December 14^th to see and hear more about their works and process.

In a world saturated with technology, Jamie Diamond invites viewers to explore the evolving nature of relationships in her short film Skin Hunger. Join us at The Church for a screening of the film and a follow-up discussion and Q&A with the Creator Jamie Diamond, Director of Photography Matt Cianfrani, producers Amy Lawday and Abby Russel, and touch practitioner and subject of the film: Ella.

Peering into the epidemic of loneliness and the service economies that have emerged in response to the growing need surrounding touch, intimacy, Skin Hunger explores the emergence of a new kind of service: the renting of people for nonsexual touch, a.k.a. cuddling.

The 26-minute short film introduces viewers to Steven, a handsome, affable 60-year-old man who lives alone in Coney Island. He’s a film buff and, each day, he travels to Times Square for work where he is surrounded by people. But, inside, he is suffocating from loneliness and a yearning to be touched — or “skin hunger.” He contacts Ella, New York City’s leading touch practitioner, and embarks on a wild journey of discovery. “Skin Hunger” spotlights the phenomenon of paying for platonic touch, and its rapidly growing community which seeks to share the mental and physical restorative benefits of touch with the rest of the world. 

This screening has been program in tandem with our Fall exhibition Here & There: The First Churchennial. Learn more about the show by visiting our exhibition page here.

Bring a sketchbook, graphite or colored pencils, and/or pens and have a seat in the Main Gallery of The Church for a communal drawing salon led by artists and art professors Jackie Hoving and Norm Paris! This recurring program celebrates our fall exhibition Here & There: The Church’s First Churchennial while also honoring The Church’s commitment to fostering creativity on the East End. Flex your creative muscles as you draw the people around you, the space, or something that catches your eye in a meditative experience of observing and being present.

Norm, a professor at Rhode Island School of Design, and Jackie, a professor at Pratt Institute,  met as students in Sam Messer’s Yale Norfolk Summer School of Art program. It was there the couple spent time in Sam’s “drawing happenings” and were inspired by his belief in community and bringing people together through drawing. 

In alignment with The Church’s vision for a creative community, the Drawing Meetups invite participants of all skill levels to a laid-back environment with a communal spirit. Tables and chairs will be provided and participants are also welcome to find a space within the exhibition for a solo meditative drawing journey. Some graphite pencils and 8x11” paper will also be provided, though participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies. Charcoal, paints, and markers are not permitted in these sessions.

 Please note that this is a causal drawing session and not a class.

Do you enjoy digging deeper and learning about the history and concepts of art? The Church’s Executive Director, Sheri Pasquarella, and the photographer Ben Hassett invite you to join them as they build a dialogue around ten photographs that date from the advent of photography through today. Pasquarella and Hassett will each present five photographs — which will only be revealed as the event unfolds. The pair will then spontaneously examine, discuss, and appreciate the ten photographs individually, engaging the audience with a fun conversation designed for art-appreciators of all levels of experience, whether new to art criticism or aficionados. Join the conversation! What photographs do you think will be revealed? 

This program is a part of the exhibition Here & There: The First Churchennial, which presents arts and works from the artist in residency at The Church from 2021 – 2024.

What are the points of intersection between writing a biography and writing a memoir? Authors Bill Goldstein and Thymaya Payne explore this and more! The two discuss their latest literary endeavors that find them in a state of “trusting the process.” Each will share an excerpt from their current works-in-process before diving into a discussion about the intersections of their practices and experiences. The talk will close with a welcomed Q&A with the audience.

Goldstein’s work-in-process is a biography of Larry Kramer, the legendary American playwright, novelist, film producer, and AIDS activist. His work is born from years of research as well as a working relationship with Kramer while he was alive. This vantage point of both being present in Kramer’s physical timeline as well as conducting the research as a third person observer has presented unique challenges to Goldstein’s process.

Payne shifts gear to turn the narrative to his own life, a sharp contrast to researched-based works that explored the lives of others – including his forthcoming biography on civil rights leader Walter White and a documentary film on Somalian Pirates. His memoir-in-process, entitled AIDS, Raves, and Pirates, explores reflections on his relationship with his father. Payne’s process explores the validity of memory and questions the mind and heart’s tendency toward projection. 

Both Goldstein’s and Payne’s projects were in development here at The Church during Goldstein’s and Payne’s respective residencies.

This program has been programmed in tandem with our Fall exhibition Here & There: The First Churchennial. Join us as we honor the legacy of an activist, celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community, and stand together in allyship and community.

Please note that this conversation has been rescheduled from its original October 11^th date.

This program has been generously supported by the SHS Foundation, in honor of its treasurer, Sara Throne.

Welcome back Johnnie Cruise Mercer! Join us for a moving evening as Mercer presents his one act dance theater work, Mercies of a Butterfly.  A movement allegory on “weathering the storm,” the work follows a recently born spirit as they contend with weight, build strength to run, and eventually learn how to fly! With Mercer’s Black movement history at the center of the work’s structure, the dancer/choreographer/director publicly leans into his epic memory in order to share the goodness of letting go.

The solo performance involves close collaboration alongside a creative team of long-time collaborators and peers including music producer Young Denzel, film/video artist Torian Ugworji, horn player Robert McSweeney, drummer Jean Charlot, and fashion designer Pierre Rashad.

This performance has been programmed as part of our Fall Exhibition, Here & There: The First Churchennial.  More information can be found by visiting our exhibition page here.

Each exhibition, The Church presents an ‘after hours’ session that provides a stimulating, in-depth look at the show with the people who made it happen. For The Churchennial, we are presenting a dynamic format:  an introduction about how the exhibition came to be, followed by a ‘lightening round’ exhibition tour with several of the artists!

The program begins with a brief talk by Sheri Pasquarella, our Executive Director, who will share the insights and inspiration behind the show & the exhibition design. We’ll then go through the exhibition with ‘lightening rounds’ with exhibiting artists who will discuss or describe their work in their own words – including Linda K. Alpern, Amy Wickersham, John Wittenberg, Mark Webber, Sharon van Liempt-Brown, Margaret Garrett, Jim Gingerich, Roisin Bateman, Peter Solow, Francine Fleischer, Kerry Sharkey-Miller, Susan Bachemin and others tba!

What was the impetus behind the move to create this exhibition format, highlighting former artists in residence? How did we come up with the exquisite exhibition design? What does the work mean in the artists’ own words? Come find out in this unique experience within the Fall exhibition Here & There: The First Churchennial. Audience Q&A will be integrated into the tour and format.

Bring a sketchbook, graphite or colored pencils, and/or pens and have a seat in the Main Gallery of The Church for a communal drawing salon led by artists and art professors Jackie Hoving and Norm Paris! This recurring program celebrates our fall exhibition Here & There: The Church’s First Churchennial while also honoring The Church’s commitment to fostering creativity on the East End. Flex your creative muscles as you draw the people around you, the space, or something that catches your eye in a meditative experience of observing and being present.

Norm, a professor at Rhode Island School of Design, and Jackie, a professor at Pratt Institute,  met as students in Sam Messer’s Yale Norfolk Summer School of Art program. It was there the couple spent time in Sam’s “drawing happenings” and were inspired by his belief in community and bringing people together through drawing. 

In alignment with The Church’s vision for a creative community, the Drawing Meetups invite participants of all skill levels to a laid-back environment with a communal spirit. Tables and chairs will be provided and participants are also welcome to find a space within the exhibition for a solo meditative drawing journey. Some graphite pencils and 8x11” paper will also be provided, though participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies. Charcoal, paints, and markers are not permitted in these sessions.

 Please note that this is a causal drawing session and not a class.

Deepen your appreciation for the beauty of the line, shape, and form with artist Margaret Garrett. A former dancer turned visual artist, Garrett will discuss her inspirations and her process in the creation of Canon, a video that is representative of her movement-based work. Learn how making Garrett began making videos as a way to find shapes for her paintings and how this evolution led to the development of a new visual language for her—video collages that explore movement, shape, and the unfolding of contrapuntal patterns. Following the discussion there will be a spirited Q&A

Garrett’s Canon will be on view as part of Here & There – The First Churchennial, our fall exhibition and can be seen ahead of the talk during our exhibition hours Thursday-Monday 11 AM to 5 PM beginning October 5^th.

Calling all makers, creatives, artists, and writers! Bring your supplies and join us for a casual and no-pressure environment to make art together. A reimagined Late Night Open Studio, Artists & Makers Night invites creatives of all types to gather and make art together alongside our current artists-in-residence, Hollis Chitto and Daniel T. Gaitor-Lomack. Visit their studios to see their work, gain inspiration, and chat about process. Passionate about fostering creativity in its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection, The Church welcomes you to break out of your solitary studio and make art with others!

Bring a sketchbook, graphite or colored pencils, and/or pens and have a seat in the Main Gallery of The Church for a communal drawing salon led by artists and art professors Jackie Hoving and Norm Paris! This recurring program celebrates our fall exhibition Here & There: The Church’s First Churchennial while also honoring The Church’s commitment to fostering creativity on the East End. Flex your creative muscles as you draw the people around you, the space, or something that catches your eye in a meditative experience of observing and being present.

Norm, a professor at Rhode Island School of Design, and Jackie, a professor at Pratt Institute,  met as students in Sam Messer’s Yale Norfolk Summer School of Art program. It was there the couple spent time in Sam’s “drawing happenings” and were inspired by his belief in community and bringing people together through drawing. 

In alignment with The Church’s vision for a creative community, the Drawing Meetups invite participants of all skill levels to a laid-back environment with a communal spirit. Tables and chairs will be provided and participants are also welcome to find a space within the exhibition for a solo meditative drawing journey. Some graphite pencils and 8x11” paper will also be provided, though participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies. Charcoal, paints, and markers are not permitted in these sessions.

 Please note that this is a causal drawing session and not a class.

Calling all Educators, Superintendents, and School Administrators!

Join us for a special Open House designed to support East End students and educators. Attendees will learn about existing arts enrichment opportunities for schools and students, as well as how to apply for our new ACE (Arts, Creativity, and Education) Pilot Program for the 2026 school year. Five selected applicants will be awarded a $5,000 budget each to support a yearlong arts education partnership with The Church.   

Enjoy light refreshments, connect with fellow educators, and meet our co-founders April Gornik and Eric Fischl, as they share the founding vision for The Church and its mission to inspire creativity on the East End.

Event Highlights:

• Program overview with Executive Director Sheri Pasquarella

• Learn how you district can benefit with Casey Kleister-Meyer, Operations Manager

• Explore possibilities with Kristen Santori, Programming and Communications Manager

• Tour our facilities and explore workshops with Samuel Havens, Workshop & Residency Manager

• Q&A and Feedback Session

• Food, beverage & Conviviality!

Registration is free. Space is limited.
This event is specifically designed for educators and school leaders –please share with anyone who may be interested.

Let’s inspire creativity together!

Photographer Mary Ellen Bartley will share the inspirations, evolutions, and challenges she faced while working on her project Morandi’s Books. Bartley’s 2020 residency at Casa Morandi in Bologna initiated Morandi’s Books, which offers a contemplative look into the personal library of Giorgio Morandi, the twentieth-century Italian painter renowned for his quiet and precise still life compositions. A six-week residency at The Church during the pandemic offered Bartley space for expanding the series which reflects Bartley’s deep engagement with Morandi’s restrained visual language while expanding her ongoing exploration of books as vessels of both form and feeling. 

Learn about Bartley’s process and ideas at our first Insight Sunday of the autumn. Following the discussion there will be a thoughtful Q&A.

Bartley’s work will be on view as part of Here & There – The First Churchennial,  our fall exhibition and can be seen ahead of the talk during our exhibition hours Thursday-Monday 11 AM to 5 PM beginning October 5^th.

Bring a sketchbook, graphite or colored pencils, and/or pens and have a seat in the Main Gallery of The Church for a communal drawing salon led by artists and art professors Jackie Hoving and Norm Paris! This recurring program celebrates our fall exhibition Here & There: The Church’s First Churchennial while also honoring The Church’s commitment to fostering creativity on the East End. Flex your creative muscles as you draw the people around you, the space, or something that catches your eye in a meditative experience of observing and being present.

Norm, a professor at Rhode Island School of Design, and Jackie, a professor at Pratt Institute,  met as students in Sam Messer’s Yale Norfolk Summer School of Art program. It was there the couple spent time in Sam’s “drawing happenings” and were inspired by his belief in community and bringing people together through drawing. 

In alignment with The Church’s vision for a creative community, the Drawing Meetups invite participants of all skill levels to a laid-back environment with a communal spirit. Tables and chairs will be provided and participants are also welcome to find a space within the exhibition for a solo meditative drawing journey. Some graphite pencils and 8x11” paper will also be provided, though participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies. Charcoal, paints, and markers are not permitted in these sessions.

 Please note that this is a causal drawing session and not a class.

This event has been postponed. New Date and time information forthcoming.

What are the points of intersection between writing a biography and writing a memoir? Authors Bill Goldstein and Thymaya Payne explore this and more! The two discuss their latest literary endeavors that find them in a state of “trusting the process.” Each will share an excerpt from their current works-in-process before diving into a discussion about the intersections of their practices and experiences. Moderated by Kristen Santori, the talk will close with a welcomed Q&A with the audience.

Goldstein’s work-in-process is a biography of Larry Kramer, the legendary American playwright, novelist, film producer, and AIDS activist. His work is born from years of research as well as a working relationship with Kramer while he was alive. This vantage point of both being present in Kramer’s physical timeline as well as conducting the research as a third person observer has presented unique challenges to Goldstein’s process.

Payne shifts gears to turn the narrative to his own life, a sharp contrast to researched-based works that explored the lives of others – including his forthcoming biography on civil rights leader Walter White and a documentary film on Somalian Pirates. His memoir-in-process, entitled AIDS, Raves, and Pirates, explores reflections on his relationship with his father. Payne’s process explores the validity of memory and questions the mind and heart’s tendency toward projection. 

Both Goldstein’s and Payne’s projects were in development here at The Church during Goldstein’s and Payne’s respective residencies.

Programmed in tandem with our Fall exhibition Here & There: The First Churchennial, this program also falls on what would be the 38^th anniversary of a massive LGBT march on Washington as well as National coming out day. Join us as we honor the legacy of an activist, celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community, and stand together in allyship and community.

Come celebrate with us! Stop in anytime between 6 PM and 7:30 PM on October 4^th to get the first look at our 2025 Fall Exhibition Here & There: The First Churchennial during our opening reception.  A multi-media exhibition, Here & There highlights the artists residency program at The Church from its first three years, 2021 through 2024.

Central to our mission to ensure that Sag Harbor continues its long history as a thriving center for makers and artists, this year-round residency program has featured over 128 artists and thinkers from around the world and from our community. More than 40 of those artists will be on view in all visual art media including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and video art, in addition to events and workshops in performance, music, and the written word.

Calling all makers, creatives, artists, and writers! Bring your supplies and join us for a casual and no-pressure environment to make art together. A reimagined Late Night Open Studio, the Makers Night & Open Studio, invites artists of all types to gather and make art together alongside our current artists-in-residence, James Esber and Madjeen Issac . Visit their studios to see their work, gain inspiration, and chat about process. Passionate about fostering creativity in its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection, The Church welcomes you to break out of your solitary studio and make art with others!

Attendees are responsible for bringing all of their own supplies (including easels). The Church is providing its studio (including tables and chairs) for artists to utilize, as well as an environment of conviviality. Please note, there is limited capacity, and this program will operate on a first-come, first-served basis—Reserving your ticket through our website will guarantee you a spot in the studio. Furthermore, artists are responsible for all their own cleanup; clean up should begin half an hour before the event concludes. Operation of the monotype press will not be permitted. Thank you!

This program has been generously supported by
the SHS Foundation, in honor of its Treasurer, Sara Throne

The Church presents its very first unique
choreographed commission

Award-winning contemporary dancer and choreographer CLAUDIA HILDA  is joined by Dancer DANNY QUITANA for a dance performance in response and commissioned as a companion to The Ark. Subtly interweaving an expanded multidisciplinary practice that combines performance, video art, and writing, Hilda presents a multidimensional work that deeply explores and expresses the themes of our summer exhibition, enriched by her collaboration with Quitana’s traditional foundation in dance. Audience experience is heightened by the beautiful experimental design of recent graduate ELEANORE JEFFREYS whose love for immersive design invites you deeper into the performance. Additionally, guests are treated to a live performance from the musical genius of ALEX KOI, whose music has been described as “impossibly stunning” (Stereo Stickman). Space is limited; please reserve tickets in advance and avoid the waitlist.

Please note: Our Parking Lot will be closed today 8/23 - please park at St. Andrew’s or utilize village parking

The 5th Annual Celebrating Creatives of Color returns and for the second time will be hosted at The Church.  The event will showcase creative artists and authors of color from Sag Harbor and beyond, and provides an opportunity for artists and authors to display their work and interact with other art enthusiasts and collectors. All artwork and books will be for sale. 

Proceeds from this event will help support the Bridgehampton Childcare and Recreational Center (BCCRC) and The Church. Artists and Authors will donate 10% of their total sales to support these two important community organizations.

This year, we are pleased to offer a special Author Event as part of the celebration!

11:00 AM - 12 PM: Readings from select authors - Join authors Harriette Cole, Don Lemon, Wendy Mills, Victoria Christopher Murray, Former Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, and Jennifer Morgan, PhD for a live reading hosted by Sunny Hostin. All books will be available for purchase and signed after the reading.

Purchase a grab-and-go treat from Deanna Smith, the party perfectionist, and linger to enjoy all the fair has to offer!

Visual Artists to include:  Judy Henriques Adams, Akili Buchanan, Daevon Byron, Andrew Canyen, Jeremy Dennis, Faith Evans, Beverly Granger, Garry Grant, Paloma Hostin, Jennifer Ivey, Rod Ivey, Paula Nailor, Michael Jelks, John Pinderhughes, Victoria Pinderhughes, Olney Marie Ryland, Shawn Rhea, Ernani Silva, Sharon Van Liempt, Sheniqua (Shea) Young. List in formation.

A warm wave of gratitude to the event organizers and Village of Sag Harbor residents from the Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and Ninevah Communities: Beverly Granger, Gwendolyn Hankin, Victoria Pinderhughes, Paula Taylor, and Olivia White.  Their efforts have helped to bring attention to emerging and established creatives while supporting community institutions that provide access to enhanced cultural understanding and continued learning.

For questions, please email CCCSagHarbor1@gmail.com

Monica Banks invites you to an inside look at the process and inspiration behind her work Restless Things, 2024, which is included in The Ark. Drawn to contrast and dissonance, Banks’s porcelain sculptures of dead birds and insects reference the delicate beauty and tragedy found in birds and small winged creatures. For Banks, “birds are everything,” and her work contains a deep sense of spirituality and hope that she considers “essential in all of us corporeal beings.” Join us for an intriguing discussion followed by a Q&A and leave with insight into the world of birds and winged things, as well as the artist’s unique approach to the traditional technique of porcelain.

 To explore Bank’s work stop by during our exhibition hours Thursday-Monday, 11 AM – 5 PM. More information about The Ark can be found by visiting our exhibition page here. Our exhibition is free and open to the public, no RSVP necessary.

What are the secrets of Lorne Michaels’ and SNL’s phenomenal success? Find out from those who lived it!

New York Times bestselling author SUSAN MORRISON, author of Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live will be joined in conversation with the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Art of the SNL Portrait, MARY ELLEN MATTHEWS, former SNL writer, actor, and producer JIM DOWNEY, and former SNL writer SARAH PALEY. Join us for an evening of laughter, insider stories, and a celebratory look at an elusive figure at the helm of one of the century’s most impactful comedy empires.  

Copies of Morrison’s Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live and Matthew’s The Art of the SNL Portrait will be available for purchase and signed after the event.

A special thank you to our collaborating community book sellers, Book Hampton, for joining us on this program.

It’s time to talk about perspectives and perceptions with artist Thomas Deininger. Deininger, whose art is a direct response to consumer culture and a call to action toward social-spiritual responsibility and evolution, will be joined in conversation by The Church co-founder and The Ark curator, Eric Fischl. The two will discuss Deininger’s work Pigeon on the Giacometti, 2024, which is included in the exhibition and will dive into Deininger’s creative process, his use of found objects, and how his work advances his values. Following the discussion the audience is invited to a Q&A with the artist and curator.

To view Deininger’s perspective-bending sculpture, that changes upon where you are standing in relation to it, stop by during our exhibition hours, Thursday – Monday, 11 AM – 5 PM. For more information about The Ark, including exhibition dates, please visit our exhibition page here.

“In order to escape madness, I will live madly. I will risk my life, in order to save it.” – Cory Richards

Join us in giving a warm welcome to Cory Richards, the man who summited Everest without supplemental oxygen, the only American to climb one of the highest peaks in the world in the winter, and 2012 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. The inspirational Renaissance man invites you to a deeply personal keynote that explores his most profound journey: navigating the depths of his own struggles with mental health. Following the talk, Cory will engage the audience in a thoughtful Q&A and host a book signing for his best-selling work.

Blending lived experience, hard-won insight, and breathtaking imagery and storytelling, Cory explores how depression, ADHD, anxiety, bipolar, and trauma –often labeled as disorders— can become the roots of creativity, grit, empathy, and innovation. He will unpack the myth of brokenness through the lens of mental health and neurodivergence, helping us see that the very real challenges of an unquiet mind can be transformed into the traits that drive bold exploration, artistic endeavors, and healing.

The best-selling author of The Color of Everything and BIPOLAR, welcomes you to an evening of hope, as we enter the mind and heart to receive a radical human perspective: “Our differences are not our downfall—they’re our design. And that design can become our most powerful gift. The goal isn’t to fix what’s broken. It’s to break the story that says we are.”

Natural forms and space are at the heart of Bryan Hunt’s sculptures and paintings. The creative explorer joins us for a very special Insight Sunday and invites the audience to an intimate dialogue centered on Ceta-II the wood, synthetic fabric, and steel sculpture included in The Ark. Is it a bird wing? Is it a tentacle? Is Ceta short for Cetaceans, otherwise known as a marine animal like a whale, dolphin, or porpoise? Is it a space creature infiltrating the animal-laden vessel? There is only one way to find out! Ask the man directly. Come with questions and leave with insight at our first Insight Sunday of the summer.

 To view Ceta-II stop by during our exhibition hours, Thursday-Monday 11 AM – 5 PM. The exhibition is free and open to the public. To learn more about The Ark, visit our exhibition page here.