New Southampton Center Lines Up 1st Weekend of Events

The new Southampton Center art and culture space in Southampton Village, is making its grand debut Friday evening with its first exhibition opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. 

The new show, featuring photography from Greenland and Iceland by Diane Tuft, conceptual work on the nature of consumption by designer and lighting artist Bentley Meeker, and a series of slow-motion video portraits of dancers and choreographers by David Michalek, will begin with a cocktail reception with all artists in attendance. The event will be free of charge. The show will remain up until Aug. 4, and is open Thursday to Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. 

A sunset movie will begin at approximately 8:30 p.m. out on the center’s arboretum lawn, weather permitting. In the event of rain, the film will be moved indoors. Friday's screening will feature “Chasing Ice”, a documentary directed by Jeff Orlowski following National Geographic photographer James Balog through the arctic as he captures a “multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers.” The film is rated PG-13, is 75 minutes in running time, and admission is free.

Saturday morning at 11 a.m. a panel discussion entitled “Bearing Witness: Art and Climate Change” will feature a collection of artists, scientists and journalists joined together to discuss the ongoing changes in the planet’s environment, with artists Diane Tuft and Bently Meeker in attendance.

“We are proud to partner with this wonderful group of producing organizations and artists in our inaugural season,” said Southampton Center Board Chair J. Whitney Stevens. “This summer we hope to offer an array of programming for everyone to enjoy. It is exciting to engage with the community to define this space for future generations.”

Southampton Center, located at the site of the old Parish Art Museum at 25 Jobs Lane, is dedicated to presenting the arts to the Southampton community free of charge. For more information contact the center at 631-283-0967 or visit their website at southamptoncenter.org.