Together, arts and entertainment form a powerful cultural force. They foster empathy and connection among the community, casting a much-needed light on the human experience and our shared struggles, joys and triumphs. Summer in the Hamptons is prime time for showcasing the vast population of both local and visiting artists of all ilk.
Truly: This is just the tip of the ‘berg. There are a multitude of galleries, pop-ups, shows, screenings, live music events, readings and so much more happening nearly every day on the South Fork and Shelter Island this summer. Here’s a little taste of what’s taking place from now through Labor Day and beyond.
Amagansett
At the center of the hamlet’s main drag is one of the East End’s most beloved live music venues: The Stephen Talkhouse (161 Main St., 631-267-3117, stephentalkhouse.com). On Thursday, June 4, local singer/guitarist Annie Trezza channels Bob Dylan in an all-star tribute beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Sunday, June 21, enjoy Reggae Night with Winston Irie at 10 p.m. for $10 admission. A week later, on Sunday, June 28, don’t miss “The Howl: A Spectacular Lineup of East End Musical Legends,” beginning at 8 p.m. and featuring over a dozen local musicians including Gene Casey, Mama Lee & Rose, G.E. Smith, Bosco Michne, Inda Eaton, Real East End Brass, Sarah Conway and more! Funds raised will benefit Atlas for the Arts, a nonprofit supporting musical education and local talent that was started by local songstress Nancy Atlas. General admission is $65.
East Hampton
June 27 (from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and June 28 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the 4th Annual East Hampton Art Affair comes to Herrick Park (67 Newtown Lane, artfestival.com), where esteemed East End exhibitors showcase their work, from drawings and paintings to handmade jewelry to sculptures. Admission is free.
Guild Hall (158 Main St., 631-324-0806, guildhall.org) and OLA of Eastern Long Island present “Cruce de Caminos / Crossroads: A Night of Short Plays” on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, starting at 7 p.m., slated to bring community voices and contemporary issues to the stage. Tickets are $18. For July Fourth weekend, don’t miss a silent disco dance party (Thursday, July 2) from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $25. The annual Clothesline Art Sale is on Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — a Hamptons tradition since 1946!
Open during the non-freezing months of the year, spring, summer and fall are high time at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center (830 Springs Fireplace Road, Springs, 631-324-4929). This season“Keith Mayerson — My American Dream: Elaine de Kooning and Her Circle” runs through June 13. The exhibition focuses on works made in de Kooning’s East Hampton studio during the summer of 2019 and includes portraits of de Kooning and plein air works of the Pollock Krasner grounds. Starting June 17, “Showdown: Matthew Satz at the Pollock-Krasner House” features signature mixed-media works by Satz, who has long been inspired by the East End.
Montauk
The Montauk Artists’ Association, Inc. and Depot Art Gallery host another fabulous three-day art show on the Montauk Town Green (742 Montauk Highway) from June 26-28. Rain or shine. Show hours are Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Quogue
Hampton Theatre Company has been offering great stage shows since 1984 at Quogue Community Hall (125 Jessup Ave., 631-653-8955). This summer, don’t miss the spoofy muder mystery, “The 39 Steps” through June 7.
Sag Harbor
The stage truly comes to life at Bay Street Theater (1 Long Wharf, 631-725-9500, baystreet.org) during the summer. This season, performances include a glammy one-act take on fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick (“Halston”); a musical honoring the life of silver screen star James Cagney (“Cagney”); “Dear Evan Hansen” — a story of human connection choreographed by Marcos Santana; and “Bonkers in the Boroughs” from funnywoman Joy Behar. Additionally, there’ll be live musical performances, film screenings and educational theater-centric summer camps for kids throughout July and August.
From June 21 through September 6, The Church (48 Madison St., 631-919-5342, thechurchsagharbor.org) hosts “This Land: Considering the American Landscape.” It explores the past and present of the nation through a selection of works reflecting themes at the core of the American experience.
Summer-based roaming arts events like ArtSI on Shelter Island feature the work of talented local artists (left). The Church (right) offers year-round access to local and international artists, as well as other community enriching programming. (Left photo courtesy of Laurie Dolphin; right photo credit: David Benthal)
Shelter Island
What started as a one-off 15 years ago has turned into ArtSI, Shelter Island’s “Come on in!” interactive studio visit weekend. This year’s 20-artist event is Aug. 15 and 16 from noon to 5 p.m. and covers the gamut of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, mixed media, textiles and more. Grab the map at artsi.info.
Founded by Toby Perlman in 1991 and overseen by her violin virtuoso husband, Itzhak Perlman, the Perlman Music Program (73 Shore Road, 212-877-5045) offers high-level summer musical training for the best of the best classical string students — and they put on (free!) concerts all summer long that will make your jaw drop. The Chamber Music Workshop concerts are Friday, June 5; Friday, June 12; Saturday, June 13; Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. In July, don’t miss the always amazing faculty concert on Friday, July 3; the “Works in Progress” concert series, which take place most Fridays and Saturdays in July and August; and the final annual family concert on Sunday, Aug. 9. On Monday, Aug. 10. from 7 to 8:30 p.m., don’t miss Perlman’s special “Summer Celebration Concert” at Guild Hall (158 Main St., 631-324-0806, guildhall.org for tickets!).
For over 50 years, the wonderfully tenacious dedication of the Shelter Island Friends of Music has brought world-class international classical music (and, on occasion, modern interpretations of it) to the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church (32 N. Ferry Road, 631-749-2251). The monthly concerts on the docket this year include the Ulysses Quartet on Saturday, June 20, the scintillating sax of the Sinta Quartet on Sunday, July 19, brass quartet The Westerlies on Sunday, Aug. 16, and the Balourdet String Quartet on Sunday, Sept. 6. All shows start at 6 p.m. and admission is free.
With their recent rebrand as the Shelter Island History Museum (16 S. Ferry Road, 631-749-0026), this island-centric historical preservation society goes far beyond archives, bringing history and culture right into the present day with exhibits, performances, education, a farmer’s market, historical home tours and a gazillion other activations all summer long. This summer, a collaborative digital visual storytelling installation with artist Roz Dimon takes viewers into the 280-year history of the Havens family, namesake of the Havens House that SIHM calls home. Check shelterislandhistorical.org for dates.
Roam the grounds around Shelter Island Union Free School District (32 N. Ferry Road) where the 62nd annual Shelter Island Arts & Crafts Fair hosts dozens of artists and artisans and their hand-made paintings, photography, jewelry and other crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is available shelterislandchamber.org.
Southampton
On view at Southampton Arts Center (25 Jobs Lane, 631-283-0967, southamptonartscenter.org) this summer are two poignant exhibitions: “The Story of America: 1776-2026, A Celebration of Freedom and Independence” — a showcase of a rare political campaign from the Museum of Democracy, on view through July 18 — and “Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder” — 100 photographs representing some of the last century’s most important developments, on view July 25 through September 27.
Sticks and Stones Comedy Club (25 Pond Lane, Southampton, 917-855-4828, sticksandstonescomedyclub.com) hosts the Hamptons Comedy Film Festival on June 6 starting at 1 p.m. On July 25, don’t miss NYC funnyman Sherrod Small in a special concert event starting at 8 p.m.
From July 9 through July 12 the annual Hamptons Fine Art Fair (hamptonsfineartfair.com), celebrates “America 250” focusing on Abstract Expressionists. Located at the Southampton Fairgrounds, behind the Elks Lodge (605 County Road 39).
The Peter Marino Art Foundation (11 Jobs Lane) in the lovely Rogers Memorial Library houses the eponymous, eclectic art collection of architect Peter Marino. In addition to the Warhols and Roman antiquities, this summer Marino curates exhibits starting June 13 with Y.Z Kami, starting July 18 Betty Parsons and Carla Accardi with Kelly Taxter and Flavia Frigeri, the work of Robert Nava starting Aug. 1, and don’t miss artist Nicole Wittenberg’s discussion of her self-title monograph on Aug. 27. Finally, Marino’s author talk on Aug. 15 for his new book, “Tiffany Silver” is a must.
From devotee destinations like the Pollock-Krasner House to grassroots, seasonal art hubs like Duck Creek (left) the region is inspirational for both artists and art lovers. (Left photo credit: Jess Frost; right photo credit: Rob Rich)
Springs
In addition to the smaller, independently curated art shows that occur all year long, Ashawagh Hall (780 Springs Fireplace Road, ashawagh-hall.org) hosts several art shows, including this year’s 59th annual Springs Artists Invitational, a fundraiser that displays work from over 70 artists. Set to begin July 29, it runs through Aug. 9.
The Arts Center at Duck Creek (127 Squaw Road, East Hampton, 631-604-8464, duckcreekarts.org) hosts both live musical performances and standout exhibitions all summer. Catch the end of “Residual Light” through June 14, featuring art from female artists working with alternative processes and camera-less photography. Opening with a reception on June 27, “REDYELLOWPINK” by Jorge Rios combines myriad painting techniques with graphic elements.
Westhampton Beach
“Rumors: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show” is at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (76 Main St. Westhampton Beach, 631-288-1500, whbpac.org) June 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $103.The Robert Cray Band, featuring five-time Grammy winner and Blues Hall of Fame inductee Cray, performs on June 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $92. “Improv with My Friends from Work,” featuring cast and writers from “Saturday Night Live” is on June 28 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $43. On the music front for July, the dual tribute artists of Billy Joel/Elton John Face-2-Face Tribute Show take the stage, performing some of the songsters’ most beloved tunes.
Wainscott
LTV Studios (75 Industrial Road, 631-537-2777, ltveh.org) brings back acclaimed musical series Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea, starting June 28 and continuing through Aug. 29. The series, produced by Donna Rubin and LTV’s creative director Josh Gladstone, sees a standout lineup of celebrated cabaret and Broadway performers offering up-close entertainment featuring timeless live music and storytelling. General admission for the season opening event is $150 in advance, $160 at the door, while all other summer performances are $80 in advance, $85 at the door.
Water Mill
“Tony Bechara: An Artist of Many Worlds” is on at the Parrish Art Museum (270 Montauk Highway, 631-283-2118, parrishart.org) from June 28 through Nov. 1. This first-ever comprehensive survey of the Puerto Rican artist, who died last year, includes works from his later years that explore his career-long dedication to color theory and abstraction.
