Celebrating the Arts of Sag Harbor’s Historic Black Beachfront Communities

The Church in Sag Harbor will host a unique community collaboration on Friday, May 12, that celebrates the past, present and future of the creative and artistic legacy of Sag Harbor’s storied historic Black beachfront communities — Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and Ninevah Beach subdivisions

The event will begin with a panel discussion at 4 p.m. on the present and future of this artistic, rich neighborhood, featuring artists Judith Henriques-Adams, Donnamarie Barnes, and Jeremy Dennis, moderated by The Church’s Executive Director Sheri Pasquarella. Following that, guests will be invited to a guided tour of the exhibition “Return to a Place By the Sea,” which looks back on the works from the 1980s through the present by Nanette Carter, Gregory Coates, Al Loving and Frank Wimberley, whose relationships flourished in their time spent in Sag Harbor and East Hampton.

The event will conclude at 5 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception co-hosted by E.T. Williams, a visionary supporter of African American art since the early 1960s and currently a board member of The Church, and the Celebrating Creatives of Color Committee, volunteer members who are art enthusiasts, artists and longtime Sag Harbor residents of the Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest and Ninevah Beach communities. The group came together initially in 2021 to revive the tradition of community art shows to showcase local creatives and support institutions that serve the area. At the event, they will announce their plans for a community art show currently being organized as an outdoor fair taking place for the second consecutive year on August 26.

“Return to a Place By the Sea” was co-curated by The Church’s co-founder April Gornik and Chief Curator Sara Cochran. The show will run until May 27 and is open Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Tickets for the May 12 event are free, but reservations are required at thechurchsagharbor.org. The Church is at 48 Madison Street in Sag Harbor.