An annual series on art and history returns to the Amagansett Free Library with two distinct series unfolding throughout the month of September. Presented under the series title "Art/History/Amagansett," the Saturday Conversations series explores the art, artists, and cultural institutions that are important to the East End while the Sunday Seminar Series explores topics of interest to artists on the practical side of art. The "Art/History/Amagansett" series is free and open to the public. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 631-267-3810 or online by visiting amaglibrary.org. The series is supported, in part, by Hamptons Art Hub and East End Arts.
The first program, “The House That Jack Built,” focuses on the art, environment, and history of LongHouse Reserve, a utopia for living created by the world-renowned designer Jack Lenor Larsen. The hour-long conversation features LongHouse Reserve Executive Director Matko Tomicic and Board President Dianne Benson (a.k.a. Dianne B.) in a discussion moderated by Joan Baum, NPR commentator. The talk takes place on Saturday, September 10, at 6 p.m.
The second program, held on Sunday, September 11, at 6 p.m., features Springs lawyer Carol Steinberg who presents the seminar, “Copyright and Collaboration 101.5,” exploring legal issues for artists. Continue scrolling to discover details on both talks for the first weekend of the series.
Afterwards, the Saturday Arts Conversations Series continues on September 17 with gallerists Ryan Wallace and Hilary Schaffner, who discuss the founding of their East Hampton gallery, Halsey McKay, with NYU professor Douglas F. Maxwell. On September 24, East Hampton Historical Society director Richard Barons and Met historian Shannon Vittoria explore the rarely told story of Hudson River painter Thomas Moran and his wife, the artist Mary Nimmo, with curator Janet Goleas. On October 1, renowned sculptor Alice Aycock talks about her life and work with East Hampton Star culture writer Mark Segal.
The Sunday Seminars Series continues on September 18 with artist and entrepreneur Colin Goldberg, who discusses web and social media savvy with artist Steve Miller. On September 25, public relations expert Ann Lombardo explores publicity and media tips for artists with Hamptons Art Hub publisher Pat Rogers. All programs are an hour long and begin at 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 10, 6 p.m.
The House That Jack Built: LongHouse Reserve
In their roles as executive director and president, Matko Tomicic and Dianne Benson (aka Dianne B.) discuss the art and environment of LongHouse Reserve, a utopia for creative living built by the world-renowned designer Jack Lenor Larsen. Moderated by Joan Baum of NPR.
Matko Tomicic has nurtured the delicate balance between art and environment at LongHouse Reserve since becoming its executive director in 1996. Croatian born, Tomicic spent his first 5 years in the U. S. working in Southampton as an assistant for Henry Geldzahler, who was an international curator and modern art historian, and the former curator of 20th century art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Work with Geldzahler would take Tomicic from exhibitions in Bridgehampton at the Arts Gallery to Sao Paolo, Brazil, for the 20th Sao Paolo Bienal, and allowed him to work with artists such as David Hockney and Dale Chihuly.
Dianne Benson’s passion for gardening is based on the very principles she relied on in her career in fashion – form, pattern, shape, color, textures, and layers. Dianne B., as she is known, is author of the book DIRT: The Lowdown on Growing a Garden with Style. She was the owner of Dianne B. and Comme des Garcons stores on Madison Avenue and in Soho. Benson has collaborated with artists Peter Hujar, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Cindy Sherman, among others, in fashion and art. She is President of LongHouse Reserve and a founding member of the Board of Robert Wilson’s foundation, The Watermill Center.
Joan Baum holds a Ph.D. in English from Columbia University with a specialization in 19th-century English literary history. A self-professed “recovering academic,” Baum is a former professor at the City University of New York. She has for decades reviewed books across numerous genres in newspapers, magazines, and on radio, including Newsday and WSHU, the Connecticut-based National Public Radio station. Baum currently reviews for Dan's Papers where she is also responsible for the weekly art column.
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Matko Tomicic, Dianne Benson and Jack Lenor Larsen. Courtesy of The Amagansett Free library.
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Sunday, September 11, 6 p.m.
Seminar: Copyright and Collaboration 101.5
Lawyer Carol Steinberg brings years of expertise in the art world to bear in a seminar that offers “10 Things Artists Must Know” about copyright and collaboration.
Carol J. Steinberg specializes in the practice of art and entertainment law. She provides counsel to artists, writers, photographers, graphic designers, filmmakers, musicians, gallery owners, and other creative individuals and entities in New York City, on the East End of Long Island, and on the West Coast. She routinely provides counsel in the areas of art, copyright, publishing, film, graphic design, photography, business, and housing law. In addition to her private practice, Carol teaches artists’ rights at the School of Visual Arts and is a consultant to the New York Foundation for the Arts. She is the Art Lawyer for the East Hampton Arts Council and is active in various bar associations and arts advocacy organizations.
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Carol Steinberg. Courtesy of Amagansett Free Library.
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BASIC FACTS: Art/History/Amagansett is held at the Amgansett Free Library throughout September. Events are free and open to the public with a reservation which can be made by by calling 631-267-3810 or online by visiting amaglibrary.org. The series is supported, in part, by Hamptons Art Hub and East End Arts. The Amagansett Library is at 215 Main Street, Amagansett, N.Y.
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