Duck Creek Arts Center Holds Fundraiser Benefit and Draw-a-Thon Party

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the manifesto of Surrealism, the post-World War I art movement that aimed to challenge and express disillusionment with the state of the world through art that depicts a warped sense of reality. Aptly, this year also marks the second annual Arts Center at Duck Creek benefit, to be hosted in Springs on Friday, August 23, which was preceded by a Surrealist “exquisite corpse” draw-a-thon party on August 16.

The Arts Center at Duck Creek, originally an 18th century homestead, was purchased in 1949 by artist John Little, a friend of Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner who lived nearby. In 2004, the property was purchased by the Town of East Hampton with money from the Community Preservation Fund and underwent an extensive restoration. In 2018, the Arts Center at Duck Creek received its non-profit status and is now entering its seventh season as a venue for artists, musicians and other creative souls.

“Our mission is to perpetuate the pioneering spirits of the abstract expressionists and the community that they built,” explained Jess Frost, Duck Creek’s co-founder and executive director.

Everything that Duck Creek does, with the exception of the upcoming benefit, is offered to the community free of charge as an extension of its goal to “provide arts to people of all demographics.”

“I was always very hesitant to do benefits in the past, because I’ve felt that benefits tend to make people feel excluded,” said Frost. “We don’t engage in any retail activity except for this one benefit.”

Last year, for Duck Creek’s first benefit, board member and artist Jennifer Cross came up with the idea for a collaboration between artists as a way to make sure everyone could participate, even if they couldn’t attend.

“We invited artists to come and draw a nude model over two days, three sessions a day,” said Cross, who recently retired as Chair of Visual Arts at Ross School in East Hampton. “All kinds of artists came — well-known artists, emerging artists, artists of all ages, and everybody was there drawing together. It was really fun.”

Artists drew for two hours, with the only ask being that they donate one piece of art for the benefit. All drawings were sold anonymously at $200 each.

“This year, we wanted to do something similar, but not repeat the same kind of thing, so we’re doing an exquisite corpse drawing session,” Cross added.

“Exquisite corpse” is a style of drawing that emerged in the Surrealism movement which involves participants creating images concealed from one another. Those images are then merged to create a bizarre, almost triptych final piece.

“In the old days, people would draw exquisite corpses as a parlor game. They would come together and drink and party and have fun, and that’s the spirit we want to have on [August] 16th,” said Cross in the days leading up to the draw-a-thon at Duck Creek.

Cross and Frost started this year’s drawings by inviting artists that had shown at Duck Creek previously to draw the first part of the exquisite corpses. They could then circulate their piece or have Duck Creek circulate it randomly to other artists.

“Everything was a game of chance,” Cross said. “Right now, we have a bunch of finished ones, a bunch that are getting started, and what we’re going to do on the 16th is invite any artist who wants to sign up to come and draw with us, and we’ll finish them up and create some new ones.”

All pieces, with the exception of two exquisite corpse pieces created by local artists Eric Fischl and April Gornik, which will be auctioned off, will be sold for $250. All profits will benefit the Arts Center at Duck Creek.

“Our hope is that we have about 100 exquisite corpse drawings, which really means 300 people participated,” Cross explained. “The purpose of these events is to have the community feel connected to Duck Creek, to do something in the spirit of what the surrealists did, as it is the 100-year anniversary of the manifesto of Surrealism.”

The benefit on Friday, August 23, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. will be a ticketed event where attendees will have the first shot at buying the exquisite corpse pieces. But patrons who cannot attend the event can still view and buy pieces in person at Duck Creek for two more days.

“Tickets are limited for the benefit, and if people don’t want to purchase a ticket, they can see the exhibition on Saturday and Sunday [August 24 and 25], for free, from 2 to 6 p.m.,” Cross said.

The benefit will also honor former East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, who, according to Frost, was instrumental in the decision to purchase the Duck Creek property with money from the CPF.

“Basically, after the town bought the property, it just sat empty for a decade,” Frost said. “Peter was very crucial in having those buildings restored.”

“Without Peter, we wouldn’t exist. It’s changed my life,” she continued. “I had a very different view of what life was out here, and I was ready to leave. Having this opportunity to create an environment that reflected my values, and the reason why this town brought this property, was important to me.”

“Duck Creek really is a vibrant place, and it’s truly succeeded in reaching a wider audience and being of service,” added Cross.

Last year, Duck Creek applied for a New York State community outreach grant, which it received. With the grant funds last year, Duck Creek created a bilingual media campaign in partnership with OLA (Organización Latino Americana) of Eastern Long Island, the East End-based Latino advocacy organization.

“We really tried to make sure that everyone in the Latino community in Springs, which is a big part of our neighborhood, felt welcome,” Frost said.

This year, Duck Creek created something called Family Night on Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m., during which dinner is served, catered by a local restaurant, and a variety of entertainment is presented.

“We try to be really sensitive to the needs of the community, and what they told us this year was that parents need a place to take kids after work, after camp, a chance for them to relax and have kids, parents and families interact,” Frost explained.

“The outreach has been incredible,” added Cross.

“We all have so much stress in our lives, there’s so much going on in the world, it’s always in turmoil, and what we’re trying to do is give people a place to calm themselves, be uplifted and not have commerce in their face,” Frost explained. “We really are trying to create a space where people can absorb the arts and elevate their lives.”

Duck Creek’s second benefit, honoring Peter Van Scoyoc, which will include live music, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, will take place on Friday, August 23, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $150. Space is limited. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit duckcreekarts.org. The Arts Center at Duck Creek is at 127 Squaw Road in the East Hampton hamlet of Springs.