SPECIAL DISCUSSION & Exhibition Opening Reception of THIS LAND: Considering the American Landscape
The Church invites you to a very special opening of our Summer Exhibition THIS LAND: Considering the American Landscape. Sit down with our Guest curators Donna De Salvo and Seph Rodney, as they discuss their curatorial perspectives of the show. Joined in conversation by The Church’s Executive Director Sheri Pasquarella, the group will explore the impetus for the show and their responses to the query “What is the American Landscape?” Learn how they navigated their curatorial decisions, the major themes of the show, and how these themes are explored through the works of art in the exhibition. Following the discussion, guests will be led upstairs to the main gallery for the first look at the summer Exhibition.
De Salvo and Rodney have conceived of a transhistorical exhibition that explores artistic responses to the American landscape both at its inception and today, reflecting our nation’s 250th anniversary.
Featured Artists include: Jeremy Dennis, Thomas Doughty, Asher B. Durand, Cristina Fernandez, April Gornik, Leslie Hewitt, Sky Hopinka, An-My Lê, Zoe Leonard, Richard Mayhew, Charles Henry Miller, Kent Monkman, Mary Nimmo Moran, Thomas Moran, Arcmanoro Niles, James Perkins, Albert Pinkham Ryder, Lucy Raven, Anastasia Samoylova, Meg Webster, selections from Hudson River School paintings and works on paper related to Dan Flavin, and a contribution from the Center for Land Use Interpretation.
Texture and Tone: Collagraph Monoprinting with Nanette Carter
Internationally acclaimed artist Nanette Carter returns to The Church to lead a workshop that explores collagraphy, a printmaking technique at the core of her practice. Blending textural collage with traditional methods of printing, collagraphs are unique in that the ‘printing plate’ is created by layering various materials, textures, and pastes upon a flat surface. This two-day workshop will introduce participants to the process and procedure behind this contemporary approach to printmaking. Don’t miss your chance for this rare opportunity to explore this rich technique with a renowned master, whose has shown in museums the world over – including The Church’s 2023 exhibition Return to a Place by The Sea.
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
June 28th What can you do for your country?
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.
ARTIST TALK: LUCY RAVEN in conversation with ALAN RUIZ in collaboration with DIA ART FOUNDATION
Join us as we welcome Lucy Raven and Alan Ruiz, two artists at the forefront of new ideas that examine time, place, space, and who explore our human experience in the landscape and community. With a special introduction by Humberto Moro, Deputy Director of Program at Dia Art Foundation, this discussion celebrates the concurrent opening of two shows that explore evolution over time: This Land: Considering the American Landscapeat The Church (opening June 21, 2026) and De sol a sol at Dia Bridgehampton (opening June 26, 2026),
Raven and Ruiz will discuss their respective work before exploring the intersections between the two. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A led by This Land exhibition curators Donna De Salvo and Seph Rodney that will then open to questions from the audience.
Monotype Printmaking - June 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 TOM FRESTON
“I Want My MTV.” Our Knowledge Friday kicks off this summer season by welcoming MTV cofounder and media mogul Tom Freston! The local bestselling author, anti-poverty advocate, and esteemed board member of several arts and media institutions, invites audiences to peer into his life and experiences as captured in his book UNPLUGGED: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu. Freston will be joined in conversation by Alessandra Stanley, long time former writer for The New York Times and co-creator of Air Mail. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A and book signing. Copies of Unplugged will be available for purchase through our community bookseller Book Hampton.
Travelling through Europe and Asia before starting a lucrative clothing export business in Afghanistan and India, Freston was immersed in a diverse cultural landscape before he returned to the United States and landed himself a job with the team that would develop MTV. Overseeing legendary networks like MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, Comedy Central, and others, Freston’s unique career lent itself to a massive cultural impact that transformed our social landscape.
Thanks to campaigns like “I Want My MTV,” in the 1980’s the network became a household staple as popular demand caused cable companies to carry the channel. This transformation shifted the way people consumed music and how musicians promoted their work, leading to a cultural zeitgeist that is currently undergoing another revolution. The media proprietor would go on to become the co-president Viacom, overseeing Paramount Pictures, Famous Music Publishing, and Simon & Schuster, adding to his wealth of experience, insight, and expertise. Join us we learn from the living legend.
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.
BOOK TALK: JIM WINDOLF, author of Where The Music Had To Go, in conversation with SUSAN MORRISON, with special performance by NELLIE MCKAY
We all know The Beatles and Bob Dylan influenced the course of popular music, changing our social landscape along the way. But did they also influence and change each other?Acclaimed New York Times journalist and widely recognized Beatles expert Jim Windolf offers a definitive “yes,” with proof! Join us for an incredible and fun evening of stories, music, and a little bit of history.
Part dual biography, part cultural history, Windolf’s book Where the Music Had to Go (April 2026, Scribner) presents a portrait of how two beloved musical luminaries actively shaped one another’s work. Windolf is joined in conversation by Susan Morrison, New York Times bestselling author of Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. The two are also joined for a special performance by singer songwriter Nellie McKay.
Packed with little-known anecdotes and revelations, including an account of every documented interaction between Dylan and the Beatles, and an exclusive interview with Paul McCartney, Where the Music Had to Go offers a critical framework for understanding the relationship between the two. Offering a fresh look into that complicated relationship, Windolf reveals a story of rivalry, generosity, and creative exchange that reshaped the direction of modern popular music.
This event 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 - July 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.
ARTIST TALK: ANASTASIA SAMOYLOVA in conversation with SEPH RODNEY, PhD
Anastasia Samoylova examines how contemporary life is shaped, mediated, and mythologized through images. With multiple photographs included in our Summer exhibition, This Land: Considering the American Landscape, Samoylova invites viewers to examine the entanglement of environmental crisis, consumer spectacle, and political imagination, revealing the tensions between surface structure, seduction, and instability, reality and representation.
Samoylova is joined in conversation by Seph Rodney, PhD, co-curator of This Land. The two will explore the work included in the show, her process, and artistic vision before opening the floor to an illuminating Q&A with the audience.
Samoylova is a highly respected artist known to create vibrant work that catches the beauty of location while juxtaposing it with the troubling consequences of climate change, gentrification, and political extremism. Her work moves across photography, painting, and installation and has been exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Norton Museum of Art, the Saatchi Gallery, Fundación MAPFRE, and C/O Berlin, among others, and is held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Pérez Art Museum Miami, and the High Museum of Art.
We invite you to view Samoylova’s selected photography included in our summer exhibition during our exhibition hours: Thursday – Monday, 11 AM – 5 PM.
WELLNESS MONDAY: Balancing our Energy Centers; a Journey through the Chakra System with LAUREN AIYANA
Join the circle and align your intentions with your energy centers with spiritual mentor, energy healer, and life coach Lauren Aiyana in our July Wellness Monday. With over 18 years of holistic healing experience, Lauren comes to The Church with a wealth of knowledge and practiced skills, helping participants become agents of their own wellness. Attendees will begin with a meditation exercise, learn about the chakras and how to balance them, work with their intentions, develop the tools needed for a daily practice, and share their reflections.
Please bring a yoga mat, cushion, or something comfortable to sit on. You will be seated on the concrete floor of the studio level of The Church. Chairs will be provided for those who need them.
Chakras, a Sanskrit word meaning “wheel,” are said to be spinning energy centers within the body and are mentioned in several ancient Hindi texts, including the Vedas and Upanishads. Though invisible, the chakras are a system that create part of our subtle body, and working with them can help clear energetic blockages and create inner clarity.
Monotype Printmaking - July 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.
BOOK TALK: TRENT PRESZLER, author of EVERGREEN: The Trees That Shaped America, in conversation with APRIL GORNIK
An enduring spirit and more than a Christmas tree, the evergreen is both tangible and symbolic. Get to the root of the matter with Trent Preszler, author of Evergreen: The Trees that Shaped America (Algonquin Books, Dec 2025) as he reveals the hidden world of a tree that is central to so many cultures and landscapes, especially the East End.
Joined in conversation by The Church co-founder April Gornik, the two will guide the audience through a sweeping journey across century and continents, exploring Preszler’s powerful case that the American cultural landscape (and economy) would not be the same without these trees. Following the discussion there will be a Q&A and a book signing.
“It changed the way I see the world!” exclaims Gornik as Preszler digs deep with meticulous research to deliver an impactful and poignant portrait of the beloved tree and presents a timely call to action to tend to our environmental responsibilities. From its symbolic evolution through paganism, Catholicism, patriotism, and capitalism to its intimate relationship with underrepresented people like the Indigenous, the enslaved, immigrants, and Queer woodworkers, the Evergreen has played an integral role in the shaping of the inner landscape of the American people.
But Evergreen is also the story of power and commerce, as America’s evergreens built ships, railroads, cities, and fortunes, while fueling westward expansion and industrial growth. Drawing on his background as a professor of applied economics at Cornell University, Preszler asks what the American pursuit of progress reveals about the cost of abundance in living ecosystems.
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.
Hamptons Jazz Fest Presents REZ ABASSI & HIRAN AHLUWALIA QUARTET
Our ongoing partnership with Hamptons Jazz Fest continues as we welcome The Rez Abbasi and Kiran Ahluwalia Quartet! The Rez Abbasi and Kiran Ahluwalia Quartet brings together acclaimed guitarist Rez Abbasi and Grammy-winning vocalist Kiran Ahluwalia in a collaboration that blends jazz with South Asian musical traditions. Abbasi, a Guggenheim Fellow, is recognized for his work as a composer and bandleader, while Ahluwalia is known for her interpretations of traditional Punjabi music alongside original compositions. Together, they present a program rooted in both improvisation and global musical forms.
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.
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.
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 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. Artists and Authors will donate 10% of their total sales to support the community organizations.
This year, we are excited to offer special programming as part of the celebration!
10:30 AM – 12 PM: RSVP today and join us for special programming featuring readings from Harriette Cole, author & lifestylist, Muriel Monik Johnson, storyteller & artist, ReShonda Tate, author of The Queen of Sugar & With Love From Harlem. All books will be available for purchase and signed after the reading. Following the readings 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!
Purchase a grab-and-go treat from Deanna Smith, the party perfectionist, and linger to enjoy all the fair has to offer!
Visual Artists to include: Patrick Earl-Barnes, Jamel Carroll, Andrew Caynon, Karim Chambers, Earlene Cox, Jeremy Dennis, Shea Designs, Faith Evans, Laura Gadson, Beverly Granger, Garry Grant, Judith Henrique-Adams, Muriel Monik Johnson, Donna Ladson, Collette McGuire, Shawn Rhea, Shimoda, Andrew Worrell and more! 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 to bring attention to emerging and established creatives while supporting community institutions that provide access to enhanced cultural understanding and continued learning.
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.
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.
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.
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 Berkely 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!
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.
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!
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
BOOK TALK: BOB CRAWFORD, author of America’s Founding Son, in conversation with JOHN AVLON
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.
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!
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 opera masters 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 in August
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 opera masters 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 in August
Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, August 1 at 12 PM
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 opera masters 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 in August
Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, August 1 at 12 PM
SUMMER DINNER THEATER: An Evening with MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
The moment you have been waiting for is her! The Church is thrilled to announce our inspirational annual tradition returns: a benefit event that is easy on the speeches and heavy on the brilliance. Showcasing yet another exceptional performer, this year’s Summer Dinner Theater benefit welcomes Martha Wainwright to the stage in her only area performance this summer!
Joining the likes of Candace Bushnell (2023), Martin Short (2024), and Laurie Anderson (2025), Wainwright has been invited due to her outstanding, heartful yet entertaining, command of song and stage. “We are thrilled that Martha is headlining this year’s benefit – our first to feature a musical act. Our summer benefit helps fund a broad range of our commitments to art and community, and she perfectly embodies inspirational levels of creativity, vision, and execution.”
Born into music royalty, the daughter of folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon
Wainwright III and sister to the highly acclaimed, genre defying singer Rufus Wainwright, Martha grew up in a world filled with incomparable musical legends Anna McGarrigle, Leonard Cohen, Suzzy Roche, Richard and Linda Thompson, Emmylou Harris and struggled to find her voice in a milieu in which every drama was refracted through song. Then, in 2005, she released her critically acclaimed debut album, Martha Wainwright, which containing the blistering hit which the Sunday Times called one of the best songs of the year. That release, and the albums that followed, such as Come Home to Mama and I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, showcased Martha’s searing songwriting style and established her as a powerful voice to be reckoned with.
AND THAT’S NOT ALL…
New this year: we’ve added a COCKTAIL HOUR ONLY ticket for those wishing to contribute the community love of the event, which includes another fantastic performer: Inda Eaton! The beloved, East End-based singer-songwriter will appear live for a set during our cocktail hour. Sorry - cocktail hour tickets do not provide access to the Wainwright performance. However, ticket holders for the dinner theater receive access to both the Inda Eaton cocktail hour and the Martha Wainwright headlining performance!
All proceeds benefit our year-round exhibitions, programming, and artist residency, making The Church a vital source for inspiring
Monotype Printmaking - June 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.
SAG HARBOR IN FOCUS: Photography Exhibition, Contest, and fashion show
Rescheduled from the 5/28 date.
Celebrate the return of Sag Harbor in Focus, the beloved photo exhibition featuring work by Pierson High School students, returning for its tenth year! And raise another glass as we welcome back the Pierson High School students who participated in The Church’s 2026 Fashion intensive workshop facilitated by Mary Jane Marcasiano and supported by the Reutershan Education Trust. The evening begins by applauding the fashionistas as they model their 2026 fashion line in our garden then moves inside to honor the winners of this year’s photography exhibition. The evening concludes with a reception! This year we are honored to have acclaimed photographer Linda K. Alpern as the judge for the photography contest.
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
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.
REFLECTIONS IN MUSIC: OPUS ONE - BRUCE WOLOSOFF, Artistic Director
The Reflections in Music series, led by artistic director Bruce Wolosoff, returns for a program that considers the ‘Opus One’ – the first published work by a composer. From Beethoven’s assured early chamber writing and Paganini’s brilliant self-portrait as a violin virtuoso, to Rachmaninoff’s expansive lyricism and Alban Berg’s late-Romantic intensity breaking through into modernism, each work performed in this invigorating concert reveals a composer defining a public voice. Wolosoff will play piano and introduce music with his signature spoken commentary, joined by violinists Max Tan and Deborah Buck, and cellist Amy Barston.
“An ‘opus one’ is a moment of arrival, when a composer steps forward and declares ‘this is who I am,” according to Wolosoff. The program also includes first published works by Bach and Vivaldi, as well as Wolosoff’s own Opus One, the piano trio Bodhisattva. The Washington Post wrote that the work, “Drawing on the starkness of Beethoven’s late quartet language and the sorrowful language of the blues, is a moving, well-crafted piece that offers accessibility without being simple-minded.”
POSTPONED: SAG HARBOR IN FOCUS: Photography Exhibition, Contest, and fashion show
Tonight’s Opening of Sag Harbor in Focus is postponed.
In light of recent tragic events, we have decided to postpone tonight’s opening reception for the Student Exhibition.
Our hearts are with the families, friends, students, teachers, administrators, and all those who are grieving. We hold the Pierson and Sag Harbor communities in our thoughts and extend our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
The Student Exhibition is a celebration of the creativity, talent, and spirit of our young people. Tonight, we instead pause to honor the importance of community and to care for one another.
We will announce a new date for the opening reception soon. Thank you for your understanding and compassion.
Celebrate the return of Sag Harbor in Focus, the beloved photo exhibition featuring work by Pierson High School students, returning for its tenth year! And raise another glass as we welcome back the Pierson High School students who participated in The Church’s 2026 Fashion intensive workshop facilitated by Mary Jane Marcasiano and supported by the Reutershan Education Trust. The evening begins by applauding the fashionistas as they model their 2026 fashion line in our garden then moves inside to honor the winners of this year’s photography exhibition. The evening concludes with a reception! This year we are honored to have acclaimed photographer Linda K. Alpern as the judge for the photography contest.
INSIGHT SUNDAY with FRANCINE FLEISCHER
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.
BOOK TALK: GAYLE FELDMAN, Author of NOTHING RANDOM, in conversation with CATHLEEN MCGUIGAN
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.
Monotype Printmaking - May 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.
COUP AT THE KENNEDY CENTER: A View From Inside - FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO, Artistic Director of the Washington National Opera, In Conversation with SALLY SUSMAN, Advisor, Advocate, and Best-selling Author
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.
PHOTOGRAM COLLAGE: Lumen Printing with Sara VanDerBeek
Explore the camera-less photographic technique of lumen printing! Characterized by their vibrant and often ethereal colors, lumen prints are created by placing various objects (often plant life or flat shapes) on silver gelatin paper and exposing it to direct sunlight. In this hands-on workshop, artist Sara VanDerBeek will guide participants through the process of creating and exposing their own unique lumen prints, sharing insight as to how the manipulation of object placement and exposure times can be used to affect the outcome of the print. After exposure, the prints can be mounted on paper to form a photographic collage or kept as individual compositions.
Screening of the Short Film WOMEN LAUGHING - Women Cartoonists of The New Yorker - followed by Panel Discussion with Directors LIZA DONNELLY & KATHLEEN HUGHES, and Cartoon Editor EMMA ALLEN
Lights. Camera. Laughter! Come join us for a delightful screening of Women Laughing,a short filmabout the women cartoonists of The New Yorker, by directors Kathleen Hughes & Liza Donnelly. Following the screening, 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.
ARTISTS & MAKERS NIGHT
Calling all makers, creatives, artists, and writers! Bring your supplies and join us for a casual and no-pressure environment to make art together. A reimagined Late Night Open Studio, Artists & Makers Night invites creatives of all types to gather and make art together alongside our current artists-in-residence, Francisco Graciano, Kariny Padilla, and Cate Pasquarelli. Visit their studios to see their work, gain inspiration, and chat about process. Passionate about fostering creativity in its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection, The Church welcomes you to break out of your solitary studio and make art with others!
WELLNESS MONDAY: The Fundamentals of Tai Chi with MARY BOOCHEVER
Mary Boochever reminds us to slow down, move with intention, quiet our minds, and raise awareness to the energy we carry and shape. A longtime Tai Chi practitioner, Boochever finds the practice and philosophy has informed her work as a visual artist and how she lives her life. As our May Wellness Monday leader, she invites you to find your own natural balance, unlocking your creative flow.
Join us as we learn the fundamentals Tai Chi based on an ancient Chinese practice built around the philosophy of Taoism. The ancient practice continues to provide lasting health benefits and aligns practitioners with rhythms that cultivate peace by stressing the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature.
Participants should wear comfortable clothing. Movement is best done in socks or bare feet.
MOTHER’S DAY SOUND BATH with DANIEL LAUTER
Experience the beauty of Daniel Lauter’s musical phrasing, melody, and harmonic balance this Mother’s Day with a sound bath designed to relax and rejuvenate. The much-loved MeditationDJ returns for another deeply relaxing journey through sound and scent. Each participant will receive a complimentary sachet of Lavender and Rose.
Bring your yoga mat, pillow, blanket, and/or anything else you may need for comfort as you bathe in the meditative tones that melt stress away. Enjoy the sounds of hand-selected, crystal
bowls, symphonic gong, Himalayan bells, bansuri, shruti, tongue drum, Yidaki (didjeridu), rain sticks, ocarina, with vocal toning, healing mantras, and other objects d'sound!
CONCERT: Melodies with Michael - performed by Ross Student - MICHAEL J. COPPOLA
Michael J. Coppola, a multifaceted performer and Senior at Ross School, joins us at The Church for a special one-of-a-kind evening of songs and stories designed to delight, inspire, and lift our spirits. Melodies with Michael is an intimate concert that journeys through a range of musical styles, from beloved musical theater classics to contemporary pop favorites. Hear favorites like “Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and “Somewhere” from West Side Story and more! Featuring a curated selection of songs and artists that have shaped his voice and passion, Michael invites the audience into his world, sharing not only the music he loves, but the personal experiences and artistic growth behind it. Michael is joined by collaborative pianist Amanda Jones.
From a duet with Kristen Chenowith to a solo performance at the Birdland Jazz Club, Coppola’s budding career is beyond impressive and speaks to his commitment to his craft. Join us as we extend a warm The Church welcome to an incredible member of the East End and continue our celebration of creativity and community.
The Fourth Annual SPRING JUBILEE!
The Buds are blooming, the birds are singing, and The Church is welcoming you to its Fourth Annual Spring Jubilee! This family-fun day celebrates spring, creativity, and community and has a little something for everyone. Enjoy interactive exhibition activations, specifically designed for kids and their families. Get hands-on during our Creativity Bubble with loads of arts and crafts activities that will spark creativity and fill your day with joy. Grab lunch from K-Pasa and Sen out in our garden. Take a stroll through The Sag Saturdays: Off Main Market on our main floor, a new feature that brings together some of Sag Harbor’s wonderful makers and entrepreneurs.
Monotype Printmaking - May 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.
AMPLIFYING VOICES: A Human Trafficking Awareness Panel
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.
AFTER HOURS with ELISABETH BIONDI
Elisabeth Biondi welcomes you to an inside look at the curator’s journey as she shines a light on our exhibition, A Thousand Words: Photography of the New Yorker. Discussing her time working at The New Yorker as its first Visuals Editor, the curator of our spring exhibition takes audiences through the photo selection process for the publication and illuminates the similarities and differences in the selection process for the exhibition. Following the discussion there will be a thoughtful Q&A with the curator and an opportunity to view the exhibition outside our normal exhibition hours.
WORKSHOP: Pinhole Photography with Erwin List Sanchez
Immerse yourself in the art and practice of pinhole photography! Taught by artist and educator Erwin List Sanchez, this hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the history and process of the pinhole camera (also known as a ‘camera obscura’) and demonstrate how a simple cardboard box can be transformed into a lens-less photographic device. Throughout the afternoon, participants will have the unique opportunity to create their own pinhole cameras and use them to capture black & white images from in and around The Church. At the conclusion of the workshop, each participant will have successfully captured, exposed, and developed their own pinhole negative. After developing, the negatives will be digitally scanned and inverted to reveal the positive image.
KNOWLEDGE FRIDAY with BILLY BALDWIN
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.
Monotype Printmaking - April 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.
A COMMUNITY DINNER
Join us for a festive, casual dinner to close out our 5th birthday weekend! In just five short years, The Church has been a site of gathering for artists, community, and creative souls of all ages. To celebrate all the good times we’ve shared thus far – and to kick off the many more to come – we invite you to break bread, raise a glass, and celebrate the joy of coming together as a community to share a meal together.
Dinner will be a family-style buffet located on our studio floor, catered by the incredible Saaz Indian Cuisine ! A cash bar will be available. Space is extremely limited, so be sure to reserve your ticket now!
An Evening of SAG HARBOR HISTORY & SEA SHANTIES with East End Native DAVID CATALETTO & The Bonac Shanty Crew
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!
Still, Small Voice at The Church: A Monthly Gathering for Reflection and Contemplative Sharing
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.
BLUEGRASS: Songs & Stories from BLOODLINE with Musician and Award-Winning Author LEE CLAY JOHNSON
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.
GET TO KNOW US: Behind The Scenes at The Church - A Celebration of 5 Years
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.
ARTISTS & MAKERS NIGHT
Calling all makers, creatives, artists, and writers! Bring your supplies and join us for a casual and no-pressure environment to make art together. A reimagined Late Night Open Studio, Artists & Makers Night invites creatives of all types to gather and make art together alongside our current artists-in-residence, Bunni Brown, Kylee Snow, and Daniella Williams. Visit their studios to see their work, gain inspiration, and chat about process. Passionate about fostering creativity in its space and establishing an oasis for creative inspiration and connection, The Church welcomes you to break out of your solitary studio and make art with others!
Personal Mythologies: Fictional Storytelling with Bunni Brown
Activate your imagination and devise your own personal mythology! Presented by interdisciplinary artist & writer Bunni Brown, this fictional storytelling workshop delves into the process of narrative development and worldbuilding through research, writing, and self-reflection. Explore how themes of magic-surrealism and improvisation can be used to blend fact and fiction, while delivering meaningful stories to an audience.
