Talks & Thinkers
Upcoming Events
Wake up your joints and stretch into Spring as Dina K returns to the Church! Join us as Dina K. guides us through some gentle joint work and stretches that promote good posture and mobility.
“We need to first establish a conscious awareness of how we embody our physical bodies,” says Dina. “When we take full responsibility for how we think and feel in our bodies we can then start working toward a healthier, more balanced existence. Taking action from that empowered state makes it much more likely to heal and transform our being.”
Please bring a yoga mat and water bottle and wear comfortable clothing.
A heartfelt and special thank you to Dina for donating this program to The Church’s wellness program.
Martin Schoeller, esteemed and world renown contemporary portrait photographer joins us for a rare area appearance to delve into his life and process behind the lens. One of the ten photographers featured in our exhibition A Thousand Words: Photography at the New Yorker, Schoeller is an internationally renowned artist who began photographing for The New Yorker in 1998 and has contributed to magazines and campaigns around the world, including National Geographic, Vanity Fair, TIME, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone and GQ, among others. In June 2025, he was honored at the Lucie Awards for his Achievement in Portraiture.
Most known for his extreme close-up portraits, a series in which familiar faces are treated with the same scrutiny as the unfamous. The stylistic consistency of this work creates a democratic platform for comparison between his subjects, challenging a viewer’s existing notions of celebrity, value and honesty. This artist talk will explore his vast body of work, which captures both the humanity inherent in all of us and the imagination and playfulness of the human spirit. Other notable projects include his Colin Kaepernick image in Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. This image went along to win the prestigious D&AD Black Pencil and the Outdoor Grand Prix at Cannes.
Join us for the rare opportunity to catch the in-demand and on-the-move photographer with an eye for honesty and learn from his experience and expertise.
Welcome to the first Insight Sunday of the spring, Bill Armstrong! The acclaimed photographer invites you to join him as he discusses the process behind his book All A Blur: Photographs from the Infinity Series. In addition to speaking about his creative process, Armstrong will also lean-in to the process of editing and photo selection that goes into making a photography book – both highly intuitive processes to which the artist brings insight and wisdom. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A.
An extensive body of work that has been ongoing since 1997, The Infinity Series brings together compositions Armstrong has made through a unique process of photographing found images with a camera’s focusing ring set at infinity, rendering a completely new image that is extremely out of focus. Armstrong creates new worlds, hovering between real and fantasy, where things are just beyond our grasp. In this world, the viewer is unable to fully resolve the image. Armstrong believes that the “psyche momentarily derailed” by this is what frees the viewer to respond emotionally.
On the happy occasion of our 5th birthday, we invite you to meet the team here at The Church that makes it happen – to get to know a little bit more about each member of the team, and to gain insights into how things work and the role each plays. Stick around after the talk to help us celebrate the momentous occasion by singing a sweet Happy Birthday to our oasis of creativity and enjoy a delicious birthday cake.
This celebration provides an opportunity to gather and celebrate community and the rare opportunity perspective on the successful inner workings of an arts institution. From a crawling infant to a tumbling toddler, to now a child ready to take on the world, The Church has evolved, grown, and built its own living legacy in the heart of Sag Harbor. Here’s your opportunity to learn from the team that continues to make it all happen, and to demystify the typically opaque intrigues of arts administration. Following short introductions by each of the members of our team there will be a Q&A with the audience, where your questions will be welcomed and fielded by the appropriate member of the staff.
Hear from: Samuel Havens, Workshop & Residency Manager; Joseph Jagos, Exhibition Coordinator; Johnnoy Johnson, Production Assistant; Madeline Maxfield, Visitor Engagement Associate; Casey Kleister Meyer, Operations Manager; Sheri Pasquarella, Executive Director; Ariel Ransom, Administrative Assistant; Kristen Santori, Programming and Communications Manager; and Whodi Warjeko, Event Assistant. Visit our About Us Page to learn more!
An extensive body of work that has been ongoing since 1997, The Infinity Series brings together compositions Armstrong has made through a unique process of photographing found images with a camera’s focusing ring set at infinity, rendering a completely new image that is extremely out of focus. Armstrong creates new worlds, hovering between real and fantasy, where things are just beyond our grasp. In this world, the viewer is unable to fully resolve the image. Armstrong believes that the “psyche momentarily derailed” by this is what frees the viewer to respond emotionally.
The church is thrilled to welcome Lee Clay Johnson! The award-winning author of Nitro Mountain is joined by his family of bluegrass musicians for a unique evening of music and storytelling. Weaving together music and excerpts from his second newly released novel, Bloodline ( April 2026, Panamerica), Johnson is both entertaining and illuminating, deepening the connection to the landscape of the novel. Following the unique performance there will be a Q&A with the author and musician.
Set deep in rural Tennessee, Bloodline explores a generational saga of mendacious transformations. The mesmerizing dark comedy is an exploration of masculinity run amuck and the celebration of femininity’s strength and resolve. It is an honest examination of the burdens of heritage & history and the journey of reclamation.
April 26th Query: What is “Nature,” now that we- our effects, our influence, and our effluence - are everywhere?
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.
Local educator David Cataletto brings his passion for and knowledge of the history of our region to an exciting & invigorating presentation on the history of Sag Harbor. Building upon his popular talks about East Hampton, Cataletto turns his focus to our wonderfully dynamic town. From whaling to the Watch Case, come for this rare opportunity to learn about our beloved village, created specially by David in honor of The Church’s fifth birthday.
The program resonates richly with our mission of fostering creativity on the East End and honoring the living legacy of Sag Harbor’s history as a makers’ village. To top off the occasion, Cataletto will lead a round of sea shanties with the Bonac Shanty Crew, a community band dedicated to reviving a regional tradition – with gusto!
Welcome to the first Insight Sunday of the spring, Bill Armstrong! The acclaimed photographer invites you to join him as he discusses the process behind his book All A Blur: Photographs from the Infinity Series. In addition to speaking about his creative process, Armstrong will also lean-in to the process of editing and photo selection that goes into making a photography book – both highly intuitive processes to which the artist brings insight and wisdom. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A
An extensive body of work that has been ongoing since 1997, The Infinity Series brings together compositions Armstrong has made through a unique process of photographing found images with a camera’s focusing ring set at infinity, rendering a completely new image that is extremely out of focus. Armstrong creates new worlds, hovering between real and fantasy, where things are just beyond our grasp. In this world, the viewer is unable to fully resolve the image. Armstrong believes that the “psyche momentarily derailed” by this is what frees the viewer to respond emotionally.
We are grateful to collaborate with Hope And Resilience Long Island (HARLI) to bring you an informative and meaningful discussion bringing awareness to human trafficking and the actionable steps we can take to prevent it. Bianca C. Collins, Vice President of HARLI and enrolled tribal citizen of the Shinnecock Nation, Alyssa Harrilal, a survivor of human trafficking and member of the ECLI-VIBES Survivors board, and Nina Hobson, a former British detective and current Head of Security for global executive protection teams, are joined by moderator Patricia McCormick, the best-selling author of SOLD and Never Fall Down.
All speakers and the moderator have unique expertise on human trafficking, providing a depth of knowledge and sensitivity aimed to illuminate a difficult yet critical topic.
Lights. Camera. Laughter! Come join us for a delightful screening of Women Laughing, a short film about the women cartoonists of The New Yorker, by directors Kathleen Hughes & Liza Donnelly. Following the screening, Judith Mizrachy, the film’s producer, and Emma Allen, The New Yorker’s first female cartoon editor, join the directors to discuss the film and host a Q&A with the audience. Lynn Sherr joins the ladies as moderator.
Inspired by Donnelly’s acclaimed book Very Funny Ladies and her own experience as a longtime New Yorker cartoonist, the film looks at how far women have come in a field historically dominated by men. This exploration includes speaking, laughing, and drawing with a diverse group of remarkable women cartoonists of the iconic magazine.
The film features intimate conversations with some of the most celebrated and groundbreaking cartoonists at The New Yorker: Roz Chast, Emily Flake, Sarah Akinterinwa, Liana Frank, Amy Hwang, Bishakh Som, and more. It also highlights the long tradition of cartoons and their critique of political systems, the way they address societal hypocrisies and absurdities, and how they express concerns and changing values of a culture.
While The New Yorker welcomed women artists in its first issue, the world has not always embraced what they had to say. Women Laughing looks at how women have had to struggle to make their voices heard, by examining the lived experience of women cartoonists and how their work is a valuable way to chart political and societal movements over time. It is a timely look at how women are using humor today to change the narrative.
This screening has been programmed in tandem with our exhibition A Thousand Words: Photography at the New Yorker. Stop by during our exhibition hours Thursday – Monday | 11 AM to 5 PM or visit our exhibition page to learn more.
Welcome, Francesca Zambello! The lifelong opera expert, known for being at the top of her field and for her esteemed leadership as the Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera (WNO) joins us for an intriguing presentation and dialogue. Zambello recently made headlines when she pulled the company from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, its home venue since 1971.
Zambello shares her reflections of this experience with Sally Susman, the best-selling author of Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts and Change the World and valued Board Member of The Church. Following the dialogue the two will host a Q&A with the audience.
Gayle Feldman, journalist and author of Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He built, invites you to dive deep into an epic story that The New York Times, in a rave review, compared to Robert Caro’s The Powerbroker. Her biography takes you inside the world of the founder of Random House, a man who later became a celebrity on What’s My Line? Cerf straddled books, Broadway, Hollywood, TV, and New York City.
Feldman will converse with award-winning journalist and critic Cathleen McGuigan. The two will explore how Feldman wrote this landmark cultural history, and venture into Cerf’s star-studded life. Following the discussion will be a Q&A with the audience and book signing.
Go behind the lens with Francine Fleischer, an accomplished artist and Sag Harbor native known for her intriguing fine art photography. Using The Water in Between #9214, as a portal, Fleischer dives deep into the creative process behind her internationally exhibited series The Water In Between. Following the discussion there will be a lively Q&A with the audience.
The Water in Between was inspired by the contradiction of purpose alive in a magical swimming hole, or cenote, that Fleischer discovered in Mexico that had once been used by an ancient civilization as a domain for human sacrifice. The series presented Fleischer with the uncommon challenges of photographing in an underground, water-filled, protected site over several years. Join us to learn more about the inspiration, technical achievements, and the methodology behind this body of work. The Water in Between #9214 will be on view downstairs in our studio space from April 23 – May 23 to view during exhibition hours,
11 Am – 5 PM, Thursday – Sunday.
This special insight Sunday has been programmed in tandem with our exhibition A Thousand Words: Photography at The New Yorker. Our spring exhibition will be on view through May 31st.
May 31st Query: Where, in the real world of the everyday, do you find inspiration, and how does the inspiration affect your thoughts and actions? (thank you to SSV collaborator Barbara Burke for the query).
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.
Sag Harborian Billy Baldwin not only draws inspiration from our village, he sweetens it with his gift of storytelling! The author of twelve children’s books, screenplays, creator of a successful cookie company, and all-around treasured community member joins us for May’s Knowledge Friday. Currently adopting his stories into animated shorts and movies, Billy has an irresistible spark of imagination. Hear how his unlikely journey from a Manhattan based cookie company led to a life of continuous creativity, including the journey of becoming a writer with dyslexia. Billy is joined in conversation by Steve Hamilton, co-founder of Bay Street Theater.
And true to his spirit of giving back to the community, the altruist promises to bring cookies for the audience to enjoy! Likewise copies of Billy’s books will be available to purchase, with proceeds to benefit The Church.