We invite you to a special After Hours discussion of Space – Sight – Line with The Church’s chief curator, Sara Cochran. Sara will lead guests on a curatorial tour of the exhibition. She will then be joined by an esteemed group of collaborators essential to the exhibition: Sarah Heinemann, Artist and Senior Lead Draftsperson for the Sol LeWitt Studio who installed Wall Drawing 528B and James Miller, Artist and Jim Labmie Studio Assistant who installed Zobop (Wild Poppy) on The Church’s front stairs. The group will explore the intricate process and intriguing ideas behind the installation of site-specific works. A Q&A will follow the tour and discussion.

Matthew Satz’s painting, Smoke Painting 4.21.15, 2015, captures an illusory moment in time, the moment between the physical and immaterial. Join us for the first Insight Sunday of our Spring exhibition, Space – Sight – Line, where Matthew will discuss his elegant painting, the shape of its meaning, and the process fueling his work.

“Time is your most valuable asset,” says Mr. Wash, a self-taught artist who taught himself to draw and paint while wrongfully incarcerated for twenty-one years, resulting in a body of work that remarkably evokes human emotions. Sentenced to life in prison in the late 1990s for nonviolent drug offenses he did not commit, Mr. Wash refined his craft eventually painting portraits of his fellow inmates, often depicting them as free men. In 2016, Mr. Wash was granted clemency by former U.S. President Barack Obama and has since gained traction as an artist having shown both nationally and internationally.

Dancer and choreographer Claudia Hilda interweaves performance, digital media, and writing to create art that is sensitive, reflective, and widely aware of contemporary times. Méritos, a dance performance that makes up part of the Las Repúblicas series, explores the journey towards awakening and liberation after a lifetime devoted to a failed social-political system. The piece will be presented by Hilda solo, followed by a screening of additional works from Las Repúblicas and a Q&A.

The opening of Space-Sight-Line on March 9th from 6-7:30 PM is free to the public.

Space - Sight - Line, our Spring show, explores the way artists play with visual perception. The perspective of the viewer is a key dynamic in this show. The works included are playfully deceptive, often using ingenious techniques that invite the viewer to stop and rethink where they are and what they are seeing. Surprising uses of space, light, and unexpected media and approaches to art-making empower the art. It makes us look at ourselves looking and invites interaction – and will bring a whole new level of drama and delight to experiencing the iconic architecture of The Church.

The exhibition began with an invitation to artist Christine Sciulli to create a site-specific work in the rafters of The Church. Inspired by water, her piece is both a sculpture and a 3-dimensional drawing in space. Different angles change the shape of the piece and the relationship between its elements, turning the vast ceiling of The Church into her canvas. 

Artists will include Uta Barth, Walead Beshty, Mel Bochner, Tara Donovan, Jim Lambie, Sol LeWitt, Gordon Matta-Clark, Matthew Satz, Christine Sciulli, Keith Sonnier, and Steven J. Yazzie. The exhibition is curated by Sara Cochran.

Performer Tess Dworman creates movement-based work using the tools of improvisation. Mel Elberg is a poet working in video, and frequently collaborates with artists of all mediums. These days, Dworman is intrigued by the inherently performative nature of conventions, like Comic Con or Santa Con– environments where people of mutual interests in niche cultures come together to play, imagine, and perform for each other or together. It’s a paradigm that speaks to the dynamics of performance at its most basic level, questioning the roles of viewer, performer, and context: the relationships between the spectator and the spectacle. Elberg is interested in word-maps, the spontaneous legibility of poetry, and how writing constraints can lend themselves to performative scores.

Dan Rizzie’s first and “sacred” word to describe printmaking is “collaboration.” Join us for our February Insight Sunday and the final day of our exhibition, Master Impressions, where the formidable artist and East End printmaker discusses the beauty of the collaborative process between artist, the printer, and the press. Guests will be able to view some of Dan’s prints and artist books and gain an in-depth look at his practice..

Paul Miller, aka DJ Spooky, wants you to think about double-think and how we frame events, create meaning, and interact with our world. Join us for an evening of exploration and reflection on one of the world’s most influential science fiction works presented by an artist with a globally conscious mind.

The accomplished and socially minded composer, multimedia artist, and writer returns to The Church, post-summer residency, with a presentation of Parallax of Quantum, an exploration of the impact of George Orwell’s 1984.

Samuel Havens, curator of the exhibition Master Impressions: Artists and Printers of the South Fork (1965-2010), will be joined by our Chief Curator Sara Cochran, and esteemed artist and educator Norm Paris, in a lively dialogue and exploration of the exhibition and printmaking processes.

Sam and Sara will lead guests on a tour of the exhibition, outside our normal gallery hours, providing an exclusive experience. A Q&A will follow the tour and discussion.

Join us for a guided studio visit with artist-in-residence Peter Solow! Over the past month, Solow has made significant developments on an installation piece that incorporates traditional and digital practices to recreate the experience of standing in a city square. Derived from 35 years of visual notes, sketches, photographs, and paintings, this work draws inspiration from the Italian cities of Venice and Florence, examining how the campos and piazzas of both cities have organized themselves within the context of their natural environment. We invite the community to observe and reflect as Solow discusses his work and practice, highlighting the progressions made while in residence.

Visual artist, poet, and memoirist, Ellen Peckham, the first Insight Sunday artist of 2024, will speak on her work, as included in Master Impressions. Peckham frequently combines poetry and visual art in her work, rejecting the idea that the artist should concentrate on one medium. Sometimes her words and visuals are included in a single work, other times Peckham’s poems and visual pieces are created concurrently, producing two separate works. The inspiration for Ce Change, a solarplate etching on view at The Church, came from the artist writing poetry during a distinct period when she was unable to work in her studio.

“As a printmaker, I know the magic of the press and I am excited to share this exhibition that celebrates the medium. The works in this show continue The Church’s characteristic way of exploring and examining the bounty of the East End within the global context of contemporary art,” says Samuel Havens, co-curator of MASTER IMPRESSIONS: Artists and Printers on the South Fork (1965-2010). Join us for a curatorial tour, where Sam will guide us through the pieces included in the show, illuminate their stories, printmaking processes, and answer questions along the way.

The Church is passionate about welcoming artists to its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection. The Church’s bi-monthly Late Night Open Studio is back! Artists of all mediums are invited to join, socialize, and work on any projects, whether past or current. Think coffee shop or a library for creatives, for moments when you would rather work in a community environment as opposed to alone in your studio or home. Attendees are responsible for bringing all their own supplies (including easels!).

Susan Meiselas is one of the most celebrated photographers of our time. Known for her ground-breaking photography in Latin America and around the world, Meiselas’s work has garnered the first Women in Motion Award from Kering and the Rencontres d’Arles in 2019 and is currently the subject of a traveling retrospective exhibition. Lindsay Morris is a published photographer whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, and Vanity Fair, among others. Her work reaches beyond photography and in October of this year, she will take the stage as a TEDWomen Speaker. Come hear Susan and Lindsay in dialogue and learn the art of documenting human stories.

Yusuf studies philosophy. Xiomara is ambitious. Isabel keeps it real. Come and learn about these complex characters and more in a live reading of Dolphins and Sharks, a play written by playwright James Anthony Tyler. Tyler returns to The Church after his residency in October, to present a dramatic reading for the community of a play that speaks to our current working conditions. Featuring an outstanding cast of actors including Tina Fabrique as Amenze Amen, Angela Reynoso as Xiomara, Pernell Walker as Isabel, among others.

Jennifer Tripp & Mark Lubell, esteemed experts in the world of fine art photography and co-curators of the photography component of our Fall Exhibition will share their reflections and lead a tour of their contribution to RE:CYCLE: The Ubiquitous Bike. Join us as they give a curatorial tour that explores the works in the show and discuss their experience of life and work, leading to their relocation to Sag Harbor!

The Church is passionate about welcoming artists to its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection. The Church’s bi-monthly Late Night Open Studio is back! Artists of all mediums are invited to join, socialize, and work on any projects, whether past or current. Think coffee shop or a library for creatives, for moments when you would rather work in a community environment as opposed to alone in your studio or home. Attendees are responsible for bringing all their own supplies (including easels!).

Philippe Cheng is, in his own words, an “image maker.” That is, he is a photographer who creates “images that strive to have meaning and a point of view. To have an intentionality.” Join us for October’s Insight Sunday, as we explore Philippe’s gift for finding inspiration in the fullness of possibility that each moment presents.

Explore downtown Manhattan’s vibrant cultural scene as The Church teams up with Friends of John Jermain Library for an October art excursion. The adventure begins with a bus ride from Sag Harbor to The Whitney Museum of American Art, located in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan’s West Village. Upon arrival, The Church’s Executive Director, Sheri Pasquarella, will lead guided tours of the exhibitions on view, which include, Trust Me; Ruth Asawa Through Line; Henry Taylor: B Side; and Fragments of a Faith Forgotten: The Art of Harry Smith, the artist’s first solo exhibition. Prior to joining The Church, Sheri was a renowned speaker and educator on contemporary art and its market, and has lectured at the Yale School of Art, Columbia University, Christie’s Education, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the School of Visual Arts; as the founder of the innovative online learning platform, SLP The Class, Sheri presented more than 100 lectures covering over 250 artists from 1900 to the present – including a tour of the Whitney Biennial in 2022.

Following The Whitney and lunch break (not included with ticket purchase), attendees are welcome to ride the coach bus or walk (we suggest taking the High Line) up to Miles McEnery Gallery, located at 515 W 22nd Street. Artist and The Church Co-Founder April Gornik will lead the group through a tour of her latest solo exhibition, The Other Side, which opens at Miles McEnery on September 7th. Concluding the trip, attendees will be afforded free time to explore the 350+ galleries that the Chelsea neighborhood has to offer. The coach will pick up the group from Miles McEnery Gallery at 5 PM and return to Sag Harbor after a beautiful day spent looking, thinking, and being moved by art and culture. All proceeds of this trip will be split between The Church art center and Friends of John Jermain Library, both registered not-for-profit organizations.

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 the North Fork for a guided tour of a local farm, where guests, alongside Eric Fischl and April Gornik will sketch animals, plants, flowers, or whatever inspires them, using the farm and its surroundings as a catalyst for creativity! All supplies, including sketchbooks, pencils, and chairs, will be provided. Please bring the necessary clothing/accessories for sun protection. All skill levels of drawing are welcome, from complete novices to total professionals.

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 2023: Virginia Overton, curated by renowned artist Ugo Rondinone. Following the sculpture tour, the group will be given an exclusive tour of Rondinone’s private garden and artist studio.

The trip will conclude in Shelter Island for a studio visit at the private residence of artist Margaret Garrett. Garrett will discuss her current works, which were inspired by the artist’s residency at The Church back in February.

The Church is a program partner for a panel discussion following a sneak preview screening of the new documentary Larry Rivers: Bad Boy of the Art World. The panel will feature the film’s director and producer, Peter Rosen, The Church’s Co-Founder Eric Fischl, who knew Rivers, Lana Jokel, local filmmaker, and gallerist/collector Louis Meisel, all friends of the artist who died in 2002. It will be moderated by The Church’s Chief Curator, Sara Cochran.

Join us for a studio tour with our current Artist-in-Residence, Nanette Carter. Known for her complex compositions working with paper collages, canvas, and mylar, Nanette seeks to negotiate some of the world’s harsher realities, explore human nature, and present the mysteries of nature through the abstract language of form, line, and color. For the past two weeks while in residency, Nanette has explored practices in drypoint and collagraph printmaking. The Church and Nanette invite you to step inside the studio, observe her works, and reflect as Nanette discusses her process, highlighting the perspectives and developments made during her stay.

This event is free and open to the public, RSVP suggested. Stop any time between 5 PM – 6 PM on Thursday, August 24th. The studio is accessible by using the side entrance located on the ground floor.

“This show [Strike Fast, Dance Lightly] is a sermon about the belief and value we put on the struggle to be, to live, to understand, to love, to try and to never give up,” shares Eric Fischl when describing The Church’s current exhibition Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing. Hear more from Fischl and Sara Cochran as the co-curators converse on the conceptual and curatorial process revolving around this mammoth of an exhibition featuring 70 works of varying mediums by 56 nationally and internationally known artists. Fischl and Cochran will lead a tour of the exhibition, after hours when the building is closed, allowing guests an exclusive viewing of the gallery. After the tour, will be a reading from esteemed poet Philip Schultz. The evening will conclude with a lively conversation between Cochran, Fischl, and Schultz as they discuss the show, the emotional tension it evokes, and the varied interpretations of boxing within contemporary art. Following the conversation, will be a light reception with mocktails courtesy of Aplós –– Non-Alcoholic Spirit, a better way to unwind!

The Church is passionate about welcoming artists to its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection. The Church’s bi-monthly Late Night Open Studio is back! Artists of all mediums are invited to join, socialize, and work on any projects, whether past or current. Think coffee shop or a library for creatives, for moments when you would rather work in a community environment as opposed to alone in your studio or home. Attendees are responsible for bringing all their own supplies (including easels!).

Join us for a lecture on the relationship between Parkinson’s and Boxing featuring Sarah Cohen, PT, DPT, and Administrator of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital’s Center for Parkinson’s Disease, and Michelle Del Giorno, founder of Epic Martial Arts in Sag Harbor, which includes Rock Steady Boxing, a program that has helped over 200 Parkinson’s fighters since 2017. The conversation between Cohen and Del Giorno will focus on Rock Steady Boxing, where the fighters don’t compete or train for titles and accolades but instead are fighting against Parkinson’s disease.

Multidisciplinary artist Zöe Buckman will speak on her work including Champion, 2016, one of the many featured works in The Church’s summer exhibition, Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing. Buckman’s art practices incorporate sculpture, textiles, ceramics, photography, and large-scale public installations. Her work explores identity, trauma, and gendered violence, challenging the prepossessed notions of vulnerability and strength.

Hamptons Jazz Fest continues its concert series at The Church with vocalist/composer Sarah Elizabeth Charles joined by her Quintet. Having released three critically acclaimed albums with her band, SCOPE, Charles is on the rise and her music has been described as “soulfully articulate” by the New York Times and “an unmatched sound” by Jay Z’s Life+Times.

Insight Sunday returns with multidisciplinary artist Stephen Laub. Originally from California, Laub moved to New York City in 1977, where his performances and videos were presented at venues such as 112 Greene Street, The Kitchen, and MoMA, and his sculptural work was represented by the Elan Wingate Gallery. He taught at Tyler School of Art and then in the Art Department at Rutgers University, Newark, retiring in 2018.