Monotype Printmaking - September ADVANCED
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an ADVANCED session for participants who have taken attended a minimum of TWO Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking sessions at The Church.
KNOWLEDGE FRIDAY with RANDOLPH CROXTON
With a warm welcome we invite Randolph Croxton to kick off our Fall Knowledge Friday series! A pioneer in green architecture with a lifelong interest in the military sciences, Mr. Croxton is a Sag Harbor gem, working hard to preserve the historical legacy of our small seaside town. The preservationist, author, and true renaissance man will discuss his own story, sharing the experiences that shaped him and how a fascination with Sag Harbor has led him to fiercely protect and honor its integrity.
Croxton wrote the introduction to the Sag Harbor Historical Museum’s Sag Harbor in the Revolution, an important book that was published this year to commemorate the village’s history and role relative to our nation’s 250th anniversary. Therein, he illuminated the Battle of Sag Harbor, the heroic patriot attack on the British fort and garrison, and this town’s pivotal role in the 1776 formation of a nation. An elder at the Old Whaler’s Church, Croxton’s rich knowledge of our local landscape is indispensable and an incredible asset to our community.
Special Discussion & Exhibition Opening Reception: DEAR MAZIE,
Grab a ticket to hear from our special guest and Dear Mazie curator, Amber Esseiva the Senior Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Institute for Contemporary Art Virginia Commonwealth University (ICA at VCU). Esseiva is joined by Jessica Bell Brown, Executive Director of the ICA at VCU. The two will discuss the importance of Meredith’s legacy, the impetus for the show, as well as navigate guests through the curatorial journey. Following the discussion, guests will be led upstairs to the main gallery for the first look at the visiting exhibition.
The first of its kind, Dear Mazie, explores the life and enduring influence of pioneering architect, educator, and artist Amaza Lee Meredith through newly commissioned works by leading contemporary artists.
Featured Artists include AD—WO (Emanuel Admassu and Jen Wood), The Black School (Shani Peters and Joseph Cuillier), Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo, Kapwani Kiwanga, Abigail Lucien, Practise (James Goggin and Shan James), Tschabalala Self, Cauleen Smith, Donnamarie Barnes, Michael Butler, and Hank Willis Thomas.
Join us as we honor Amaza Lee Meredith, one of the beloved Sag Harbor Saints on our windows and celebrate an important milestone in The Church’s history as we welcome the first presentation a traveling exhibition developed by another museum: Dear Mazie,.
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
October 4 - What do you want?
Still, Small Voice draws its name from the idea of the "still, small voice" within—a quiet, inner voice that guides us in moments of reflection. This monthly gathering, started in 2023 as an artistic experiment, now returns as a community-led practice with rotating facilitators. It invites participants to engage in silent reflection and thoughtful sharing, centered around a question about creativity, community, and being human. We forever ever grateful for Nanao Anton & Erling Hope for their contributions, inspirations, and commitment.
This is a space to hear your and others’ authentic voices & own it in community, free of judgement or reaction, as necessary
This is not group therapy, a study group, a political action group or Quaker Meeting.
Please review our Community Values before attending.
Monotype Printmaking - October INTRO
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an INTRO session, there are no prerequisites to attend.
STORYTELLERS: An Oral History of The Historic Black Beach Front Communities
Experience the beauty and wisdom in listening to and exchanging stories firsthand by joining us for this very special evening of storytelling. Programmed in tandem with our exhibition Dear Mazie, which celebrates the pioneering local legend and Azurest Co-founder, this program is a celebration of the enduring legacy and spirit of the historic Black Beach Front communities here in Sag Harbor.
Gain a deeper perspective and intimate understanding of our local historic Black beach front communities as we traverse memories, reflections, and impressions from the people who know the landscape the best: its residents.
The program will begin with Donnamarie Barnes and Michael Butler, two artists included in the exhibition whose families have lived in the community for generations. Following their story sharing, hear anecdotes and narratives from individuals with deep personal and family ties, including descendants of Amaza Lee Meredith.
And join us as we warmly welcome Steve Williams, President of the Azurest Property Owners Association and Karen Sarah & Mark Price, residents of the historically Black community of Sag Harbor Hills.
WELLNESS MONDAY: Connecting to Creativity through Sound with STEPHANIE JOYCE
Relax. Receive. Create.
Take a restorative sound journey for the body, enter a quiet space for the mind, and accept the invitation to reconnect with the creative self with Stephanie Joyce. The certified yoga instructor, meditation teacher, and artist invites attendees to enter an immersive sound experience as she guides them to a place where creativity can flow naturally without judgement or expectation. Participants should bring their own yoga mats, blankets, and/or pillows for comfort as well as a sketchbook or notebook.
Beginning with a sound bath of resonant gong, Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, bells, chimes and other instruments from around the globe Stephanie creates an atmosphere of relaxation. From there participants will be guided to a more intuitive state before quietly transitioning to an opportunity to connect to their creativity.
There is no need to be an artist. The Focus is on process rather than product—allowing colors, shapes, words, textures, and ideas to emerge intuitively.
Monotype Printmaking - October ADVANCED
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an ADVANCED session for participants who have taken attended a minimum of TWO Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking sessions at The Church.
MARTY BELLER: TWISTS, TURNS, and BREAKTHROUGHS- Inside the Work of a Recording, Touring & Composing Career
Grammy Award-winning composer and drummer for
They Might Be Giants,Marty Beller comes to The Church
to share the insights of his 40 Year music career
Find your voice. Collaborate. Show up hungry. And grab every opportunity! These are the central threads running through Marty Beller’s career. The Church welcomes the Grammy Award-winning composer and the drummer for the iconic alt-rock band They Might Be Giants to the stage to present a fascinating interactive lecture. There will be plenty of time for Q&A (Marty loves Q&A)!
Designed to give students, aspiring musicians, and anyone passionate about the arts, an inside look at what a working music career looks like, Marty immerses attendees into a vibrant whirlwind of interactive experiences and shared stories. From recording studios to live shows, the big break, creative meetings, surfing the sea of inquiry and beyond, Marty utilizes decades of experience to create a clear understanding that the real world of a professional musician can take many shapes and sizes. The most important thing is to put every bit of energy you have into everything you do!
INSIGHT SUNDAY with STELLA SANDS
A warm welcome to Stella Sands - Sag Harbor’s own bard of mystery and intrigue. The best-selling author kicks off our Insight Sunday series this fall, inviting readers and aspiring writers to contemplate the origins of story, the development of characters, and more as she shares her unique reflections on writing as a craft. How did a trash-talking tattooed linguistic savant and an old-fashioned observational genius sleuth come to be the main characters in her highly acclaimed fictional debut Wordhunter? And what led to their return to enthusiastic readers in the newly released sequel, Codebreakers (August 11, 2026, Harper Perennial).
As best-selling author of six true crime books and a fictional mystery series, Sands offers audiences the rare opportunity to examine the creative similarities and differences between telling a gripping true story and creating a scintillating fictional one. Following the discussion and Q&A there will be a book signing with books available to purchase.
Thank you to our community bookseller Book Hampton of East Hampton for joining us for this program!
STORIES & SONGS: BETSY SUSSLER, author of Station of the Birds, with Special Musical Performance by REAL EAST END BRASS
“It’s October in New Orleans, and all evenings are hallowed.” – Station of the Birds
Betsy Sussler, BOMB Magazine Founder and natural storyteller, creates magic at The Church with her newly released debut novel Station of the Birds (January 2026, Spuyten Duyvil Publishing). This unique evening sees live music, a live reading with the author and an illuminating discussion between Sussler and The Church co-founder April Gornik, plus a thoughtful Q&A with the audience, followed by a book signing. A warm thank you to Real East End Brass helping us to kick off the program with a special musical performance designed to deepen our connection to the landscape of the novel.
Set in the bayous, swamps, and drug dens of the Louisiana backcountry and New Orleans, Station of the Birds is a thrilling family saga that takes readers through a physical landscape and a psychological one.
Following the story of Daryl Munroe, a well-educated, privileged, and disinherited prodigal son, readers are led to Munroe’s hometown in Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Swamp where he is hell bent on intimidating his father by setting up an illegal smuggling business. He joins forces with his estranged childhood friend, Michael Duvet, the son of a local jazz musician and together they begin a mysterious quest in an area steeped in myth & generational lore and entrenched by barriers of class and race. Part fever dream, part cautionary tale, Station of the Birds spins a narrative about fathers and sons, addiction’s hollow banging at the gate, and the ritual sacrifices rooted in agrarian culture.
Thank you to our community bookseller Book Hampton of East Hampton for joining us for this program!
Native American Zoomorphic Pinch Pots with Tony Valderrama
Join environmental artist and educator Tony Valderrama for an afternoon workshop that blends culture, art, wildlife, and music. In this one-hour session, participants will be guided through the basic techniques of working with clay as they create their own unique pinch pots, personalized in the shape of their favorite animals. As pinch pots were one of the most basic forms of Native American ceramics, Valderrama will also discuss Native American culture, incorporating flute music and artwork samples inspired by his indigenous Taino roots.
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
October 25 - How do we “re-humanize?”
Still, Small Voice draws its name from the idea of the "still, small voice" within—a quiet, inner voice that guides us in moments of reflection. This monthly gathering, started in 2023 as an artistic experiment, now returns as a community-led practice with rotating facilitators. It invites participants to engage in silent reflection and thoughtful sharing, centered around a question about creativity, community, and being human. We forever ever grateful for Nanao Anton & Erling Hope for their contributions, inspirations, and commitment.
This is a space to hear your and others’ authentic voices & own it in community, free of judgement or reaction, as necessary
This is not group therapy, a study group, a political action group or Quaker Meeting.
Please review our Community Values before attending.
The Third Annual SPOOKY-PALOOZA - DANCE PARTY & COSTUME CONTEST - and A weekend celebrating creative spooky fun!
It’s time for the Third Annual Spooky-Palooza! Join us as we honor Sag Harbor’s love for spooky season with an all-out celebration this Halloween weekend. This collaboration between Sag Harbor Cinema, The Church, and Bay Street Theater presents family fun for all ages all weekend long.
New this year: Bay Street, The Church, & the Cinema team up to present a Spooky-palooza DANCE PARTY & COSTUME CONTEST!!! Eat, drink, and be spooky at this party of the season. Not to be missed! This festive event benefits ALL 3 ORGANIZATIONS – come support!
Join us all weekend long and test your costume prowess, dance the night away, enjoy spooky stories around the campfire, catch a classic spooky film, honor the late Tim Curry, spark your creativity and experience the joy of community while enjoying the spirit of the season.
READ MORE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS!
SPOOKY-PALOOZA: Fall Fun Creativity Lab
Join us as we honor Sag Harbor’s love for spooky season with our final Spooky-Palooza program!
Spark your creativity and spend quality time creating together during this fall fun creativity lab! Pick up a blank canvas, grab a ceramic sugar skull, color in some fun festive fall images, and more take home creative fun! Adults, don’t sleep on getting your ticket. Each year we witness the adults having just as much fun as the kiddos!
Spooky-Palooza is an ongoing collaboration between Sag Harbor Cinema, The Church, and Bay Street Theater that presents family fun for all ages all weekend long.
KNOWLEDGE FRIDAY with JANET REITMAN
Janet Reitman, award winning journalist, contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, best-selling author, and Springs resident joins The Church’s Knowledge Friday series! The author of The Inheritance: An American Tragedy in Five Acts (Random House, October 6, 2026), speaks about writing the newly released and highly acclaimed narrative non-fiction work and invites audiences to learn more about her story.
Reitman is joined by Dini von Mueffling, CEO of the award-winning public relations firm and current The Church board member, who will lead the conversation covering Reitman’s one-of-a-kind experience that is chock full of insight and revelation. A riveting Q&A and book signing to follow the discussion.
The Inheritance, a stunning piece of narrative non-fiction, examines how 9/11 transformed America from a country revered for its democratic ideals to a nation defined by its fears, as told through the eyes of its nine characters. The Inheritance, devoid of an omniscient narrator or an introduction to set up a polemic, creates a stunning portrait through hundreds of hours of interviews with its subjects, allowing their stories and voices to illuminate the culture of fear that has impacted American values.
Learn about how Reitman, who also penned the national bestseller Inside Scientology: The Story of American’s Most Secretive Religion, integrated her experiences as a war correspondent in the Middle East, and covering post-9/11 America as a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, and as a current writer for the Times Magazine to tell the stories of nine Americans over three turbulent decade, creating magic in The Inheritance.
Thank you to our community bookseller Book Hampton of East Hampton for joining us for this program!
CONCERT: REFLECTIONS IN MUSIC: Time Remembered led by Artistic Director BRUCE WOLOSOFF
The Reflection in Music series, led by artistic director Bruce Wolosoff, returns with its new season opener Time Remembered. Taking its title from Bill Evans’ enigmatic composition of the same name and placing it at the center of the evening, the concert explores the classical side of the musical world that shaped Evans and the music that he in turn inspired.
The program features Bach, Ravel, Debussy, Poulenc, and Dutilleux alongside Stravinsky, Ligeti, and a world premiere by Reflections’ artistic director Bruce Wolosoff. Performed by a stellar cast of musicians, the evening moves through memory, introspection, and music’s singular power to suspend time.
Wolosoff is joined by clarinetist Narek Arutyunian, violinist Christina Nam, cellist Michael Nicolas, and flutist Catherine Winters Boyack.
WELLNESS MONDAY: Grounding in Gratitude with JESSIE KENNY
Gather ‘round and spotlight your gratitude with Jessie Kenny in November’s Wellness Monday. Bring a journal and join us as the East Hampton health & wellness coach illuminates the importance of gratitude to our overall wellbeing. Kenny will speak about what happens in the body and mind when we bring gratitude into our awareness and will offer a couple inspiring journal prompts and spark a thoughtful group discussion. Ground yourself in gratitude and head into the holiday season with a renewed perspective on the power of giving thanks and the warmth of communal sharing.
Monotype Printmaking - November INTRO
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an INTRO session, there are no prerequisites to attend.
AFTER HOURS: Dear Mazie, with AMBER ESSEIVA, EMANUEL ADMASSU, and JEN WOOD, Founding Partners of AD—WO
Amber Esseiva, curator of Dear Mazie, leads an illuminating conversation with Emanuel Admassu and Jen Wood, founding partners of the acclaimed art and architecture practice AD—WO, whose work is included in the exhibition. Together, they will shine a light on our current show, taking attendees through the exhibition’s conception, actualization, realization and its journey to Sag Harbor. Following the discussion there will be an insightful Q&A with the curator and her guests followed by an opportunity to view the exhibition outside our normal exhibition hours.
Drum Leaf Bindings with Hadley Vogel
Join second-generation bookbinder Hadley Vogel for an introductory workshop on the art and technique of Drum Leaf binding! Invented by Timothy Ely, the Drum Leaf binding is a beautiful and simple structure that allows you to create a book with minimal equipment, while its unique design allows the pages to lie flat and be fully displayed without interruption of stitching.
Under the guidance of Vogel, participants will have the unique opportunity to learn from a true master as they compose, develop, and bind a simple hardcover book of their own. Participants will learn about the anatomy of a book and how to utilize the array of tools and materials associated with bookbinding. Vogel will also delve into techniques for working with book cloth and rice paper, sharing valuable insights for their use.
INSIGHT SUNDAY with INDA EATON
Calling all songwriters and music enthusiasts, here’s an opportunity to learn from East End’s own lyrical mastermind, Inda Eaton! Eaton joins us for our musical November Insight Sunday, inviting audiences to peer into her creative world and gain insight into her songwriting process. Using her song “Once” from her album Shelter in Place as a portal, Eaton will reflect on her process and examine the inspiration and impetus driving her work. Following the discussion there will be a delightful Q&A with the audience.
Monotype Printmaking - November ADVANCED
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an ADVANCED session for participants who have taken attended a minimum of TWO Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking sessions at The Church.
Figurative Monotypes with Susan Bachemin
Join Susan Bachemin, printmaker-in-residence, for a dynamic exploration of the figure through monotype printmaking. Working from a live model, participants will utilize techniques that are uniquely suited to the medium to explore gesture and line, as well as building the human form through light and dark shapes. Over the course of six hours, participants will develop their own interpretations of the figure through observation, and reach into the possibilities of the monotype process as ink comes to life on paper through the magic of the press. Participants will also learn basic press operation, printing their own works on our American French Tool and Conrad Machine etching presses.
Some knowledge of monotype printmaking is recommended but not required. All necessary tools and materials will be provided, and created works can be taken home at the conclusion of the workshop.
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
November 22 - What is pain for?
Still, Small Voice draws its name from the idea of the "still, small voice" within—a quiet, inner voice that guides us in moments of reflection. This monthly gathering, started in 2023 as an artistic experiment, now returns as a community-led practice with rotating facilitators. It invites participants to engage in silent reflection and thoughtful sharing, centered around a question about creativity, community, and being human. We forever ever grateful for Nanao Anton & Erling Hope for their contributions, inspirations, and commitment.
This is a space to hear your and others’ authentic voices & own it in community, free of judgement or reaction, as necessary
This is not group therapy, a study group, a political action group or Quaker Meeting.
Please review our Community Values before attending.
KNOWLEDGE FRIDAY with DR. GEORGETTE GRIER-KEY
Celebrate a local living legend Dr. Georgette Grier-Key - esteemed culture leader and acclaimed historian, educator, and advocate! The current Executive Director and Chief Curator of Eastville Community Historical Society will shine a light on her story. How did a child with a dream became a woman making monumental strides in her community and worldwide? Her impact is profound and her work paramount in creating a more inclusive community that prioritizes, with pride, accurate historical narratives. Come join us as we learn from this incredible woman and community pillar. An enlightening Q&A to follow.
An influential leader in several arenas, Dr. Grier-Key’s legacy is actively and effectively shaping a civic and cultural landscape that celebrates education, preservation, art, history, and culture. Disrupting the frameworks that uphold institutional and structural exclusion and fiercely advocating for the education that distills the ignorance of cultural incompetency, the Medger Evers College Professor also holds several leadership positions throughout New York State. This includes the President of the NAACP Brookhaven Town Branch, advisory board member of the Preservation League of New York State, among others.
This Knowledge Friday is programmed in tandem with our current exhibition Dear Mazie, an exhibition that celebrates the life, legacy and enduring influence of Amaza Lee Meredith our nation’s first practicing Black female architect and Azurest co-founder. Dr. Grier-Key’s work is directly responsible for the preservation of the Azurest community and her trailblazing legacy a wonderful mirror to Meredith’s enduring presence in her community.
RAGTIME AT 50! A Multimedia Presentation with CAROLINE DOCTOROW
Experience a multimedia event that celebrates the 50th anniversary of E.L. Doctorow’s groundbreaking novel Ragtime and explore his life and legacy with someone who knew him best - his daughter, Caroline Doctorow. Join us in welcoming the acclaimed singer-songwriter, as she weaves together excerpts of the novel, radio interviews, family photos & anecdotes, and more. Caroline will also treat audiences to a live performance of several songs relevant to the occasion, noting how her father’s book found new life on stage as a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Following the discussion, Caroline welcomes questions from the audience.
Published in 1975, Ragtime burst onto the literary scene and broke new ground as it wove together fact and fiction, creating a tapestry of early 20th-century America. Set against the backdrop of an era defined by seismic social and cultural shifts, the novel explores themes that remain strikingly relevant today: immigration, racial tension, and the evolving role of women in society. With its rich characters, masterful narrative, and profound insights into the American experience, Ragtime continues to resonate across generations.
Come explore the legacy of the late world-renowned author and one of The Church’s beloved Sag Harbor Saints.
Thank you to our community bookseller Book Hampton of East Hampton for joining us for this program!
WELLNESS MONDAY: Capturing the Heart of Vinyasa with CAMILLE PETRILLO
Join esteemed yogi Camille Petrillo to free the body, nurture the mind, and access the energy that both grounds and lifts us. Offering a unique Vinyasa flow, blending traditional Hatha yoga postures, Kundalini exercises, and Pranayama techniques, Petrillo has designed an exploration into conscious movement motivated by the rise and fall of the breath.
Open to all levels; however, knowledge of basic Hatha yoga postures is required. Please bring your own yoga mat, water bottle, and wear comfortable clothing.
This wellness Monday will focus on the moment-to-moment presence of transitioning between poses while honoring the chakra centers in our motion. Petrillo aims to inspire a safe, creative, individualized, and lighthearted practice within a foundation of proper alignment.
INSIGHT SUNDAY with ROISIN BATEMAN
Explore nature’s ephemeral metamorphosis with Roisin Bateman, an established artist born and trained in Ireland and Sag Harbor resident for forty years. Though not a traditional landscape painter, her work is known for its exquisite use of color to evoke nature’s continual change. Using her work Rising Air as the focus of exploration, Bateman will discuss her approach to making art and insights along the way. Following the presentation there will be a delightful Q&A with the audience.
In her pastel drawing, as in her use of thin layers of oil paint, beeswax in other works, Bateman illuminates the way colors appear and disappear in the crossing of air, water, warmth, light. Join us as we reflect on nature around and within us through an artist who sees more than what meets the eye.
Stop in ahead of the program, between November 20 – December 13, during our exhibition hours 11 AM – 5 PM, Thursday through Monday, to see Bateman’s work Rising Air in person.
LECTURE: Thomas Welcome Roys - Sag Harbor Whaler in Iceland with PARI STAVE
Help us give Pari Stave, Head Curator at the National Gallery of Iceland in Reykjavík, a warm Sag Harbor welcome as she illuminates the Iceland chapter in the life story of Sag Harbor whaler Thomas Welcome Roys (1816-1877). From the remote fishing village of Seyðisfjörður, in Iceland’s East Fjords, Roys transformed whaling industry with his discoveries and his audacious (and ultimately failed) experiments in industrialized whale hunting and processes. Following the discussion, Stave welcomes questions from the audience.
In his Sag Harbor ship Superior, Roys sailed through the Bering Strait and into the Arctic Ocean, where he discovered an abundance of “new-fangled monsters,” the Western Arctic bowhead whale. This discovery would open the door to new travel patterns and new hunting grounds for whalers from all over the world. Roys also developed and patented whaling rockets to hunt faster and more powerful species that had until then eluded European whalers.
CONCERT: The Secret of Christmas with APRIL VARNER
“It’s not the things you do at Christmas time but the Christmas things you do all year through.”
– The Secret of Christmas, Ella Fitzgerald
April Varner, a supreme vocalist, bebop technician, and contemporary storyteller invites audiences to a beautiful evening of holiday songs and homages to Ella Fitzgerald. Praised by DownBeat as an artist with “impressive range,” and by The New York City Jazz Record as “masterful in improvisational scat and the art of vocalese, Varner dazzles, connects, and deeply resonates with audiences across generations.
Varner is joined by Konrad Paszkudzki on piano, an artist who is recognized for his interpretations of classic American Jazz and the Great American Songbook and hailed as a “rising-star pianist” by JazzTimes. In the words of Wynton Marsalis, “he has a pearly touch, a sense of history, a sense of drama, a love of the blues, and an elegance which is borne of high minded dedication"
Grab a drink at our cash bar, a small bite to eat from the concession stand, and settle in for a cozy evening of music that warms our hearts and lights up our souls.
Monotype Printmaking - September INTRO
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an INTRO session, there are no prerequisites to attend.
2026 Sag Harbor Song Festival - Sunday
The Church is delighted to announce the return of Sag Harbor Song Festival – the annual, beloved autumnal celebration of vocal performance, now in its fifth year!
The six young operatic stars who will make up the roster of Sag Harbor Song Festival 2026 on the third weekend in September are: Tessa McQueen, Elisa Sunshine, Meridian Prall, Daniel O’Hearn, Ben Taylor, and Michael Sumuel.
Each singer is a musician of great talent and accomplishment. Together, they will present a program of opera, musical theater, songs, and lieder in three concerts on successive days in late September. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of the immensely successful four previous Sag Harbor Song Festivals.
The 2026 event will again be led by two extraordinary directors: Artistic Director Brad Woolbright and Music Director Robert Tweten. Details of the individual concert programming will be available on August 1st
Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, August 1 at 12 PM.
2026 Sag Harbor Song Festival - Saturday
The Church is delighted to announce the return of Sag Harbor Song Festival – the annual, beloved autumnal celebration of vocal performance, now in its fifth year!
The six young operatic stars who will make up the roster of Sag Harbor Song Festival 2026 on the third weekend in September are: Tessa McQueen, Elisa Sunshine, Meridian Prall, Daniel O’Hearn, Ben Taylor, and Michael Sumuel.
Each singer is a musician of great talent and accomplishment. Together, they will present a program of opera, musical theater, songs, and lieder in three concerts on successive days in late September. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of the immensely successful four previous Sag Harbor Song Festivals.
The 2026 event will again be led by two extraordinary directors: Artistic Director Brad Woolbright and Music Director Robert Tweten. Details of the individual concert programming will be available on August 1st
Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, August 1 at 12 PM.
2026 Sag Harbor Song Festival - Friday
The Church is delighted to announce the return of Sag Harbor Song Festival – the annual, beloved autumnal celebration of vocal performance, now in its fifth year!
The six young operatic stars who will make up the roster of Sag Harbor Song Festival 2026 on the third weekend in September are: Tessa McQueen, Elisa Sunshine, Meridian Prall, Daniel O’Hearn, Ben Taylor, and Michael Sumuel.
Each singer is a musician of great talent and accomplishment. Together, they will present a program of opera, musical theater, songs, and lieder in three concerts on successive days in late September. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of the immensely successful four previous Sag Harbor Song Festivals.
The 2026 event will again be led by two extraordinary directors: Artistic Director Brad Woolbright and Music Director Robert Tweten. Details of the individual concert programming will be available on August 1st
Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, August 1 at 12 PM.
CALL FOR VENDOR APPLICATIONS: The 6th Annual HOLIDAY MAKERS MARKET
Calling all makers, artisans, artists, and tinkerers! We are thrilled to announce that this year’s Holiday Makers Market is now accepting submissions from prospective vendors. If you are a weaver, potter, designer, woodworker, jewelry designer, or a designer or retailer of other marvelous artisanal objects, we’d love to hear from you!
Our annual market features a curated selection of more than a dozen unique artisans and makers, offering our community a selection of home goods, clothing, jewelry, and more.
Interested in being considered as a vendor? Read below and apply!
All Applications must be received before 5 PM – September 13th to be considered. Late / incomplete submissions will not be considered.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE APPLYING:
Vendors must be able to present both days of the market to be considered
Goods that are made or designed on the East End and/or are handcrafted will be given priority
Vendors must be equipped with their own Point of Sale
Vendors who are not incorporated entities (S-Corp, LLC, and INC.) may be subject to sign an additional liability waiver
ABOUT THE VENDOR SPACES
All vendors are responsible to bring their own: Tablecloth(s), merchandise, supplies, and point of sale
ONLY ONE VENDOR PER SPACE – vendor spaces are not to be shared by multiple vendors
There will be NO WALL SPACE available
All vendors will be designated a space in our main gallery for this year’s market. Upon invitation to the curated market, vendors will be offered one of three possible spaces:
8’ x 5’ Vendor Space - $150 - ONE (1) 8 foot table provided
8’ x 10’ Vendor Space - $300 – TWO (2) 8 foot tables provided
16’ X 5’ Vendor Space - $300 – TWO (2) 8 foot tables provided
Applicants should indicate on their submission their space preference(s). Selection preferences do not guarantee an invitation to that size of vendor space. Vendor space availability will be communicated in acceptance emails.
Hamptons Jazz Fest Presents MEG OKURA QUINTET featuring SAM NEWSOME
Our final Hamptons Jazz Fest concert of the summer brings us The Meg Okura Quintet featuring Sam Newsome. The Meg Okura Quintet is led by Tokyo-born, New York–based violinist and composer Meg Okura, a Juilliard-trained, Grammy-nominated artist known for blending classical technique with jazz improvisation and global influences. She has performed with artists including Michael Brecker, Lee Konitz, and David Bowie, and appeared at venues such as Birdland, Blue Note, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Join us for an incredible evening with an esteemed international star!
BOOK TALK: BOB CRAWFORD, author of America’s Founding Son, in conversation with JOHN AVLON
Please note due to a slight delay this program will begin at 6:30 PM, Check-in will begin at 6 PM.
From Bob Crawford, the grammy-nominated bassist for the Avett Brothers, comes an astounding biography on the extraordinary life and legacy of John Quincy Adams, America’s sixth president. America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick (March 2026, Zando), paints a powerful portrait of an often-overlooked former president, whose fierce independence, nimble activism for democracy, and early crusade against slavery echo today. Joined in conversation by American journalist and political commentator John Avlon, Crawford will dive deep into a tumultuous period of the past and surface with the eerie similarities to modern times. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A and book signing.
Timelier than ever, Crawford’s biography does an incredible job of illuminating the valuable lessons and insights history holds for us. One of the strongest voices against Andrew Jackson’s “Make America Great Again” campaign and Jackson’s unprecedented executive overreach, John Quincy Adams became a political maverick whose grassroots activism and defiance of dictatorial gag-rules shifted the American political landscape forever.
Join us as we learn how the musician’s quiet obsession with books on American history turned him into an unlikely but widely popular public historian and experience real time his gift for making the past feel urgent.
A very special thank you to Book Hampton for being our community bookseller for the program! This reading and discussion has been programmed in tandem with our summer exhibition THIS LAND: Considering the American Landscape, which can be viewed June 21 – September 6 during our exhibition hours 11 AM – 5 PM, Thursday-Monday.
16th Annual Baer Faxt Invitational Golf Tournament & Summer BBQ
Join us for the 16th Annual Baer Faxt Invitational Golf Tournament! A beloved tradition that brings together art world innovators, collectors, and golf enthusiasts for a memorable day on the course and an evening of great food.
Gestural Figures & Still Life Forms: A 3-Day Watercolor Intensive with Wendy Artin
Immerse yourself in the practice of watercolor painting! Join renowned artist Wendy Artin for a three-day intensive workshop that explores figures and form through this delicate medium. Artin has become world-renowned for her painting and watercolor workshops, previously held to great acclaim in France and Italy, that make great use of her insightful teaching abilities as well as her beautiful approach to the medium. We are thrilled to bring this extraordinary opportunity to our community!
ARTIST TALK: SKY HOPINKA in conversation with SHERI PASQUARELLA
Explore the interpretation of homeland and landscape with award-winning Indigenous visual artist and filmmaker Sky Hopinka. A member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and descendant of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, Hopinka’s work examines the correlation between language and culture in relation to home and land. Joined in conversation by The Church’s Executive Director Sheri Pasquarella, Hopinka will speak about his body of work, including the four video works included in This Land: Considering the American Landscape, his creative process, and the importance of Indigenous cinema in our cinematic landscape. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A with the audience and the opportunity to view the works in the main gallery space.
Hopinka has described his work to Filmmaker Magazine, saying: “deconstructing language [through cinema] is a way for me to be free from the dogma of traditional storytelling and then, from there, to explore or purpose more of what Indigenous cinema has the possibility to look like.” The award-winning filmmaker, whose films have shown in various festivals including Sundance, New York Film Festival, among others, digs deep into the personal and is reflected through documentary and other forms of non-fiction media.
Currently an assistant professor of film for Harvard University, Hopinka invites audiences to learn, reflect, and examine the Indigenous landscape of this land.
Stop by during our exhibition hours Thursday – Monday, 11 AM – 5 PM, to view Hopinka’s work in person and to take in the work of over a dozen additional artists included in This Land.
FILM SCREENING & DISCUSSION: Earth, I Thank You: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer with BRENT LEGGS and KEVIN YOUNG
Join us for a very special screening of the documentary short film Earth, I Thank You: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer. The film had its world premiere at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture and its New York premiere at The Frick Collection. The documentary explores the historic sanctuary of Harlem Renaissance poet, civil rights advocate, and gardener Anne Spencer. The 37- minute documentary celebrates the cultural and historical significance of the Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum in Lynchburg, VA. It is rare for a historic house and garden to survive intact—especially one belonging to an African American. The film screening will be followed by a powerful discussion on preservation and legacy between Brent Leggs, the President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and poet Kevin Young, 2026 Griffin Poetry Prize recipient and National Book Critics Circle Awardee. The discussion will then open to a thoughtful Q&A with the audience.
This program is presented in tandem with our summer exhibition, This Land: Considering the American Landscape. Reflecting upon the 250th anniversary of the United States, the film explores the people and histories that have shaped the American experience and our understanding of the land itself.
A legendary Harlem Renaissance poet, civil rights advocate, and passionate gardener, Anne Spencer housed and entertained numerous luminaries and civil rights leaders including Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Thurgood Marshall, George Washington Carvver, and Dr. Martin Luther King in her Virginia home. Her garden features a sculpture gifted to Spencer by W.E.B Du Bois and is one of the most significant examples of a preserved African American garden in the United States. A modest and deeply personal space, the garden is imbued with stories of civil rights advocacy, literary genius, and the many historic figures who walked its paths.
Appearing in the film are key figures in the world of historic preservation and African American history. Brent Leggs, CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, offers insights into the significance of preserving this site. Peggy Comett, Curator of Plants at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello; Dr. Reuben M. Rainey, Professor emeritus at the University of Virginia and co-author of a book on Anne Spencer; and Dr. Noelle Morrissette, Director of African American and African Diaspora Studies at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and author of a book on Anne Spencer, discuss the horticultural heritage and legacy of the garden and its role in shaping African American cultural identity. The film was produced for The Garden Conservancy by artist Kate Cordsen.
INGRID SILVA - An Afternoon of Original Ballets
Explore the compelling dialogue between movement, storytelling, and visual art with acclaimed choreographer Ingrid Silva. Joined by esteemed dancers Renan Cerdeiro, Vinícius Freire, and Elias Re, Silva invites audiences to an exquisite afternoon of contemporary ballet and reflection. Following the performance Silva and the dancers will sit down for an insightful Q&A with those in attendance.
Presenting original works: Echoes on the Wall, As Ondas Da Vida (Waves of Life), and Interactions, Silva welcomes audiences to emotionally resonant choreography that examines the beauty in our shared human experiences. How do we connect with one another? How do we navigate life’s complexities, experience art, each other? Join us as we roam the emotional landscape of trust, vulnerability, and that which unifies us.
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
August 23rd - What’s so funny?
Still, Small Voice draws its name from the idea of the "still, small voice" within—a quiet, inner voice that guides us in moments of reflection. This monthly gathering, started in 2023 as an artistic experiment, now returns as a community-led practice with rotating facilitators. It invites participants to engage in silent reflection and thoughtful sharing, centered around a question about creativity, community, and being human. We forever ever grateful for Nanao Anton & Erling Hope for their contributions, inspirations, and commitment.
This is a space to hear your and others’ authentic voices & own it in community, free of judgement or reaction, as necessary
This is not group therapy, a study group, a political action group or Quaker Meeting.
Please review our Community Values before attending.
CONCERT: The American Musical Theater Landscape - performed by LOLA LAMA & WHATEVER LOLA WANTS
Let Lola Lama entertain you! Join us for a very special concert with Whatever Lola Wants, commissioned in response to our summer exhibition This Land: Considering The American Landscape. Lola Lama, the front woman of Whatever Lola Wants and recent BFA Drama Graduate from the New Studio on Broadway at NYU Tisch, takes audiences on a journey through the American Musical Theater landscape. Performing classics like “Whatever Lola Wants” from Damn Yankees and “Can’t We Be Friends” from Fine and Dandy, while offering the fascinating history behind them.
Lama is joined by Whatever Lola Wants bandmates Matthew Brand on keyboard and Dylan Hewett on bass. Learn about your favorite showtunes, uncover the transformations in Musical Theater history, and enjoy a one of a kind performance by rising stars of the East End.
Lite bites and a cash bar will be available for this performance!
The Church & Marfa Stance Present: The August Morning Basket Weaving Workshop with Underwater Weaving Studio
Join artist Erin Pollard, Founder of Underwater Weaving Studio, for an immersive basket–weaving workshop designed to inspire creativity and focus through the hand-brain connection. Guided by expert instruction and using plant-based materials, participants will craft their own handwoven rattan August Morning Basket while sharing a meaningful community experience alongside friends, family, or fellow makers. This workshop celebrates craft, connection, and the quiet luxury of creating something meaningful by hand.
A Very Special Evening with HOWARD MARKS
Howard Marks, legendary investor and co-founder of Oaktree Capital Management and a Board Member of The Church, returns for another special summer discussion!
After a successful and highly engaging program last summer, Howard joins us again to discuss what’s currently on his mind concerning the world of finance and investing. Providing an accessible opportunity for our whole community, Howard welcomes guests to an insightful discussion, sharing his unparalleled practical wisdom gained from over 57 years of experience in the world of investing. There’ll be plenty of time for questions!
Following the discussion, the special evening continues with an intimate fundraiser, inviting up to 20 individuals to a private seated dinner with Howard. Guests will be treated to a catered meal and the rare opportunity to engage in an intimate dialogue with our financial expert.
All proceeds from the event will benefit The Church.
Monotype Printmaking - August ADVANCED
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an ADVANCED session for participants who have taken attended a minimum of TWO Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking sessions at The Church.
INSIGHT SUNDAY with ARCMANORO NILES
Arcmanoro Niles, esteemed East End visual artist and visionary, joins us as our August Insight Sunday speaker. Included in This Land: Considering The American Landscape, Niles has created a unique painting specifically for the exhibition. Niles invites audiences to see deeply into the work, learn about his process, and gain insight into the wellspring of his creativity. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A and the audience will then be led upstairs into the gallery to view the work in person.
A painter known for working with vivid and bright hues, Niles’s new painting is reflective of how much landscape has become a part of his practice. He says, “I began to realize how important my relationship to nature was. In this painting I wanted to capture the feeling of the day ending looking out into the fading sky, an attempt to connect and reset watching the sunset, contemplating what tomorrow might bring.”
Hamptons Jazz Fest Presents TRIO LIBRE
Join us for our second concert of the 2026 summer season with Hamptons Jazz Fest and welcome Trio Libre! Trio Libre is a project by Latin Grammy–winning percussionist Samuel Torres, featuring a minimalist trio of congas, piano, and vibraphone. The ensemble explores a stripped-down approach to jazz and Afro-Latin music through rhythm, texture, and improvisation. Join us for a vibrant evening straight from the heart!
VIRTUAL ARTIST TALK: MEG WEBSTER in conversation with DONNA DE SALVO
PLEASE NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances this program will now be VIRTUAL - webcast information will be issued upon confirmation of reservation
Reflect on ecology, sustainability, and interconnectedness with esteemed sculptor Meg Webster as she joins co-curator Donna De Salvo in conversation. Examining her two sculptures Moss Bed King (1986-88/2026) and Steel Containing Salt (1990), which are both included in the summer exhibition This Land: Considering the American Landscape, Webster and DeSalvo enter into organic dialogue centered on Webster’s work as a whole. Following the discussion, there will be an insightful Q&A.
Working primarily with organic materials such as moss, water, stone, wood, and soil, Webster transforms natural elements into immersive sculptural environments. Her work invites viewers to consider nature as a vital and inseparable part of human experience rather than something distant or remote from daily life. Webster’s work contributes to important 20th century artistic movements and innovations, lending itself specifically to Land Art and Minimalism. Webster’s two sculptures can be viewed ahead of the talk during our exhibition hours: Thursday – Monday between 11 AM – 5 PM.
Fiber to Form: Papermaking & Botanical Printmaking with Kaitlin Pomerantz & Samuel Havens
Have you ever wanted to make your own paper to use in your own art? Join artist and materials researcher Kaitlin Pomerantz and Samuel Havens, master printer and Workshop & Residency Manager at The Church, for an introductory workshop on the practices of hand papermaking and botanical printmaking. Over the course of two 3-hour sessions, participants will be guided from fiber– the raw plant matter that forms the material basis of paper– to form– creative surface design made using various flora and the monotype printmaking process.
WELLNESS MONDAY: 10 Minutes to Better Health with NADIA ERNESTUS
Local gut health expert and nutritionist, Nadia Ernestus, returns for another Wellness Monday focused on gut health, hydration, and more! Ernestus welcomes participants to a hands-on approach to their health by offering four simple, science-backed habits that can dramatically improve health when practiced consistently – and can be done daily in just ten minutes or less! Gain new awareness of hydration as a foundational health tool. Reset in a guided meditation that you can practice at home. Practice the simple movement-based exercise that does it all. And learn the fast and delicious way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet.
As a bonus, participants will be treated to the benefits of fermented foods, partaking in a live tasting at the end of the program. In a world where health advice often feels overwhelming and time consuming, this workshop provides a realistic approach. Each of the habits take ten minutes or less to do and will send attendees home with the skills they can use to revolutionize their daily habits.
CONCERT: Sons of Town Hall - The Great Return
Ahoy! The Sons of Town Hall are set to return to the shores of Sag Harbor for another evening of music, storytelling, laughter, and whimsy. Pulled back to The Church by the current of popular demand, the 19th- century vagabonds Josiah Chester Jones and George Ulysses Brown, mythic characters played by the transatlantic folk duo of American songwriter & author David Berkeley and British songwriter & producer Ben Paker, take audiences on another amazing adventure. From the simply sensational artistry of their original songs to their impeccable comedic timing, The Sons treat audiences to an evening of delightful imaginative play and reprieve from the stresses of the modern world. Take it from those who joined us the last time The Sons were here, this is a show you need to experience!
KNOWLEDGE FRIDAY with DR. SUZAN “SUJAY” JOHNSON COOK
We warmly welcome Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook to our Knowledge Friday series! Widely known as Ambassador Sujay, the visionary trailblazer and transformational leader has broken barriers across government, ministry, academia, and media. Her distinguished public service and international leadership have earned her recognition as one of the world’s leading voices in faith diplomacy, peace building, and cross-cultural engagement. Come celebrate her story with us and then stick around for the Q&A at the end of the program.
Dr. Cook will be joined in conversation with Mercedes Nesfield, the “Village Mother of Harlem”.
Appointed by President Barack Obama and nominated by Hillary Clinton, she became the first woman and the first African American to serve as U.S Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, advising the President and Secretary of State on global religious freedom and policy issues across nearly 200 nations. She remains the only Black woman from New York State to hold the title of U.S. Ambassador.
Ambassador Sujay was also the first African American woman elected senior pastor in 200-year history of the American Baptist Churches USA. She also served for 21 years as the first female chaplain of the NYPD, ministering on the front lines during the September 11th attacks, helping New York and our nation through traumatic times, and earning recognition as “America’s Chaplain.”
She is also a local legend. The best-selling author hosts a local television program on LTV called “Live with Sujay” and focuses on Black women leaders and East End Headliners.
This Knowledge Friday has been programmed in tandem with our Summer Exhibition THIS LAND: Considering the American Landscape, which can be viewed June 21 – September 6 during our exhibition hours 11 AM – 5 PM, Thursday-Monday.
Monotype Printmaking - August INTRO
New sessions of Open Studio – Monotype Printmaking are here! In response to increased popularity and demand, we are excited to announce that there are now 2 different levels for the program: INTRO and ADVANCED. This is an INTRO session, there are no prerequisites to attend.
The 6th Annual CELEBRATING CREATIVES OF COLOR: Art Show, Art Sale, and Book Signing
The 6th Annual Celebrating Creatives of Color returns and for the third time will be hosted at The Church! The event showcases creative artists and authors of color from Sag Harbor and beyond, providing an opportunity for them to display their work and interact with art and literature enthusiasts and collectors. All artwork and books will be for sale.
Proceeds from the donated entry fees will help support The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreation Center and The Church. Likewise, artists will donate 10% of their total sales to support the community organizations.
This year, we are excited to announce the CCC is part of a weekend long celebration of Black Culture with the Apollo, CAAPA, and the National Black theater. We are also excited to offer special programming as part of this annual celebration!
10:30 AM – 12 PM: RSVP today and join us for special programming featuring Harriette Cole, author & lifestylist, Muriel Monik Johnson, storyteller & artist, ReShonda Tate, author of The Queen of Sugar Hill & With Love From Harlem. All books will be available for purchase and to be signed after remarks. Following the authors, Nanette Carter will be presented with the Living Legend Award. Then join us as we welcome esteemed academic and author Dr. Eddie S. Glaude Jr. The author of We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For and Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lesson for Our Own, sits down with ABC News Anchor and correspondent Linsey Davis, to share insight and inspiration. Space is limited – RSVP in advance today!
Visual Artists to include Patrick Earl-Barnes, Elyse Beavers, Jamel Carroll, Andrew Caynon, Karim Chambers, Earlene Cox, Jeremy Dennis, Shimoda Donna Emmanuel, Faith Evans, Laura Gadson, Beverly “Bebe” Granger, Garry Grant, Judith Henriques-Adams, Rod Ivey, Jennifer Ivey, Muriel Monik Johnson, Donna Ladson, Collette McGuire, and Sheniqua Young (Shea Design)! List in formation.
A warm wave of gratitude to the event organizers and Village of Sag Harbor residents from the Sag Harbor Hills and Ninevah Communities: Beverly Granger, Victoria Pinderhughes, Paula Taylor, and Olivia White. Their efforts have helped revive and refresh the Historically Black Beach Communities’ history of supporting local charities through the arts.
THE SCIENCE OF DEEP MEDITATION: Transcendence. Stress Relief. Creative Awakening. with BOB ROTH, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation
Find your pathway to transcendence, your benefits in stress relief, and awaken your creativity as Bob Roth, Transcendental Meditation (TM) teacher and CEO of the David Lynch Foundation welcomes audiences to take a deep dive into the science of meditation. With over 50 years of experience teaching TM, the mental health luminary shares the inner workings and the techniques that have helped over 1.5 million people. Following the discussion there will be a thoughtful Q&A.
Bob Roth and the David Lynch Foundation have done extensive work to reverse the harmful effects of trauma and toxic stress through serving at-risk communities including urban youth, frontline healthcare workers, first responders, women survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and veterans who suffer from PTSD. Their work elevates individuals, helping them become agents of their own wellness, fostering the creativity needed to shape their life with confidence. In alignment with The Church’s mission to inspire creativity on the East End and our own recurring wellness series, we look forward to this thoughtful collaboration and how it can benefit our community.
Proceeds from this event will benefit The Church and The David Lynch Foundation.
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
July 26th What is the relationship between freedom and equality?
Still, Small Voice draws its name from the idea of the "still, small voice" within—a quiet, inner voice that guides us in moments of reflection. This monthly gathering, started in 2023 as an artistic experiment, now returns as a community-led practice with rotating facilitators. It invites participants to engage in silent reflection and thoughtful sharing, centered around a question about creativity, community, and being human. We forever ever grateful for Nanao Anton & Erling Hope for their contributions, inspirations, and commitment.
This is a space to hear your and others’ authentic voices & own it in community, free of judgement or reaction, as necessary
This is not group therapy, a study group, a political action group or Quaker Meeting.
Please review our Community Values before attending.
CONCERT: A Tribute to Big Mama Thornton - written, conceived, and performed by PAMELA SNEED - with live band featuring VIVA DECONCINI, MARA ROSENBLOOM, and DAVID A. BARNES
Join us for a stellar performance from poetic powerhouse Pamela Sneed! Following a sold out run at Joe’s Pub last year, Sneed’s A Tribute to Big Mama Thornton comes to The Church for a rollicking evening of music, storytelling, and a celebration of the unsung Black woman founder of rock and roll, who brought us classics like “Blue Suede Shoes,” and “You Ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog.”
Written and conceived by Sneed, A Tribute to Big Mama Thornton is a cabaret performance that sees a live band weaving together monologue as Sneed sings, speaks, and celebrates the life and music of Willie Mae Thornton’s. With an eye toward restorative justice, this performance gives credit back to Thornton’s musical legacy and is a valuable educational asset. Sneed is joined by band members Viva DeConcini (musical director) Mara Rosenbloom, and David A. Barnes.
SPECULATION & FRENZY: American Artists & Art in the Marketplace in the 19th Century and Today with SHERI PASQUARELLA
As part of This Land: Considering the American Landscape, The Church presents a talk with Executive Director Sheri Pasquarella exploring the origins of American art, artists, and the art market beginning with the Hudson River School. Drawing connections between the exhibition's 19th-century paintings and contemporary artists working today, the lecture will examine how ideas about landscape, nationhood, community, and value have shaped American art for nearly two centuries.
This Land juxtaposes works from the Hudson River School—America's first major art movement—with contemporary artists whose practices both draw upon and challenge enduring notions of the American landscape. Less widely known is that this same period also witnessed the emergence of the American art market, the founding of some of the nation's earliest museums and art schools, and the development of collecting practices that continue to influence the global contemporary art world.
What was the Hudson River School, and why did it become so influential? How did its rise coincide with the creation of America's cultural institutions? When did the term "speculator" first enter conversations about emerging artists and the art market? And how do these histories continue to shape the ways art is exhibited and collected today?
Drawing on nearly a decade of independent research presented at Yale University, Columbia University, Christie's Education, and other institutions, Pasquarella will place American art in the broader context of culture, community-building, and the market, offering a fascinating look at the historical forces that continue to shape artistic production and patronage today.
