The Modern Marionette Company, led by artist and educator, Kim Profaci invites people of all ages to learn about the genius of Martha Graham! Inspired by the exhibition Martha Graham: Collaborations, Profaci has created new puppets and costumes that provide a creative new medium for understanding the forms, movements, and expression of the Graham technique, Martha’s life and work, and the ingenuous use of costumes – a hallmark of Graham’s legacy – that require activation by the performer. In this beguiling presentation, Profaci’s custom, hand-made 3-foot marionette puppets will even perform Lamentation and other key Graham moments.

Those who have attended a Profaci puppet show know that this is one for lovers of wonder and awe of all ages – as captivating as they are unique, with an edge of sophistication. Much-loved by our community, Profaci’s natural ability for story-telling and the care she brings to her craft, captures the wonder and hearts of people of all ages. Come learn about the iconic legend in a fun and magical afternoon program.

This program has been developed in tandem with our exhibition Martha Graham: Collaborations.  The exhibition is on view through March 22^nd during our normal exhibition hours of Thursday – Monday, 11AM – 5PM.

*As a part of the design of this performance specifically for The Church, the artist has asked that the audience stand for the duration of the two works, approximately 30 minutes

*a limited number of seats will be availble for those with disabilities

 TICKET INCLUDES A POST-SHOW INTERVIEW BETWEEN XIN YING & OLIVER TOBIN

AND A WINE & CHEESE RECEPTION WITH TOBIN & YING

The Martha Graham Dance Company returns to The Church for a very special evening featuring Xin Ying, one of the company’s most beloved leading dancers. Ying will perform two solo works: Letter to Nobody, conceived and created by Xin Ying and Mimi Yin, explores generative media approaches, including emerging AI technologies, to extract data from archival footage from the Martha Graham Resources archive and bring Martha Graham back to the stage to perform a duet with Xin Ying. The piece is being reformatted especially for The Church’s space and current exhibition; and; Lamentation, a classic solo created by Martha Graham in 1930, that announced to the world that modernism had arrived in American dance. As a part of the design of this performance specifically for The Church, the artist has asked that the audience stand for the duration of the two works, approximately 30 minutes. Following the two dances, the audience will be led downstairs for a Q&A between Ying and Oliver Tobin, curator of the current exhibition MARTHA GRAHAM: COLLABORATIONS. This very special evening concludes with a wine and cheese reception for the audience and the presenters and performer.

A celebrated Chinese chorographer and star dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company, Ying has created a dynamic career that earned her a spot of the cover of Dance Magazine.  Known for her embodiment of powerful female roles, many of which Graham  created for herself, Ying joins us during the celebratory weekend that honors the strength of women and kicks of Women’s Month.

 This performance has been programmed in tandem with our exhibition Martha Graham: Collaborations.The exhibition is on view during our exhibition hours Thursday through Monday, from 11 AM – 5 Pm, until March 22^nd.

This program is supported by the Friends of the Fund for Community & Education at The Church

Strike a pose and continue your celebration of International Women’s Day at our special March Knowledge Friday! – that explores the intersection of our current exhibition while also celebrating a creative community member of the South Fork. Join us for a sit down with Shelter Island’s own Margaret Garrett, a former dancer turned visual artist.

Knowledge Friday provides an intimate presentation by a community member who shares their knowledge and expertise with rare intimacy. For March, we’re exploring Garret’s special history with dance and then will turn the spotlight on a special Martha Graham Dance Company Project: The 19Poses. The audience is invited to learn a few of the poses, do the poses, and to own them in their own, powerful way!

Developed as part of The Eve Project, Martha Graham Dance Company’s celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment, The 19 Poses honors the suffragists and accentuates Martha Graham’s revolutionary representation of women onstage. Drawn from a curated selection of photographs of Graham in evocative poses, The 19 Poses were shared in this YouTube Video, starring the star of The Church’s Saturday dance performance, Xin Ying! The project also led to a memorable Insta-Graham challenge, which invited women everywhere to utilize the poses in their everyday life. Join us as we learn more about an incredible project that brought women together through movement and expression.

 This talk has been programmed in tandem with Martha Graham: Collaborations, on view January 18 – March 22 during our exhibition hours, Thursday through Monday from 11 AM – 5 PM.

No one does etching on the East End like Samuel Havens. The Church’s legendary Workshops & Residency Manager, in-house printmaker, artist, and overall renaissance man leads the first Insight Sunday of the year and invites you to gain insight into his process by witnessing it in action! Join Havens, as he presents a live demonstration print of his copper etching Dusk Haze. Using a mobile printing press and sharing the process on the big screen, Havens will walk us through the process step-by-step, illuminating the intricacies of the craft and his unique approach. Following the demonstration Havens will field questions from the audience in a thoughtful Q&A.

Join us for an opening reception of Sag Harbor In Process, a pop-up exhibition and celebration of student works created during the 2026 Pierson Intensive Workshops. This year’s intensives focused on Intaglio Printmaking, facilitated by Samuel Havens, and Fashion Design, facilitated by Mary Jane Marcasiano. Each workshop is carried out over a 3-day period, and students are granted the unique opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the techniques and processes being presented. Support for these workshops has been generously provided by The Reutershan Education Trust.

Join award-winning artist & performer mayfield brooks for an interactive presentation of dArK oXyGen, a sonic dance installation that explores the decomposed dances and choreographies of breath. In reference to the recent discovery of oxygen production in the deep ocean where sunlight cannot penetrate, dArK oXyGen examines the idea of entering darkness as a generative process, inspired by memories from brooks’ childhood of singing Black gospel music, primordial ocean myths, decomposed whales or whale falls, and dances that rely on breath to move the body and      voice. Our audience can expect a passive yet immersive experience, bringing them into a sense of depth and submersion that examines how cycles of light and dark, life and death, are always entwined.

This program is supported by the Friends of the Fund for Community & Education at The Church

Are you familiar with the century old technique and the highly artisanal craft of hand bookbinding? Learn from Paul Vogel! Our first Knowledge Friday of the year welcomes the seasoned artisan to discuss the craft, the history of the book, and his own origin story as a book binder. From traditional binding to custom made pieces, the East Hampton shop owner has dedicated more than 40 years to the technique. Following the discussion, Vogel invites the audience to learn the figure eight stitch and create their very own take-home hand-bound booklet!

Fully immerse yourself into the world of American Master, Martha Graham, as we present a screening of the full-length documentary Martha Graham: The Dancer Revealed followed by a Q&A with the film’s executive producer Susan Lacy led by Sheri L. Pasquarella, The Church’s Executive Director.

Produced for PBS’s “American Masters” series, the hour-long film is a definitive documentary on the life and work of Martha Graham. It traces Martha Graham’s career from her early days with Denishawn Company and follows her through the formation of her own troupe. Directed by Catherine Tatge and narrated by Claire Bloom, the film documents Graham’s emergence as one of the most important figures in twentieth-century dance, as echoed by the set pieces, costumes, photos, and more of the exhibition. Join us for a unique experience to take in the film, whilst being surrounded by the history it documents.

A warm welcome to Lindsay Morris! Peer into the mind and creative process of the esteemed photographer as she discusses her project The Kids of Camp I Am, a follow-up documentation about Camp I Am, a weekend camp for gender-creative children and their families. This update, featured in The New York Times Magazine, will explore new photos and writing from former attendees of the camp who are now young adults. Sharing excerpts from these essays, Morris invites The Church audience to continue the dialogue about how non-judgmental environments can provide life-changing support and pave a road free of judgment, welcoming of a wide-range of gender expressions. Following the presentation, there will be a meaningful Q&A with the photographer.

This project was a 2025 recipient of the New York State Council for the Arts Artist Grant, as supported through The Church.

A regular contributor to The New York Times, a 2023 TED Speaker, producer of the 2016 BBC documentary My Transgender Summer Camp, and publisher of You are You, a monograph about Camp I Am, Morris offers an invaluable insight to aspiring photographers drawn to advocacy and support.

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.