An Afternoon with Ai Weiwei at LongHouse Reserve
In Conversation with Alexandra Munroe

LongHouse Reserve is honored to welcome internationally acclaimed artist and activist Ai Weiwei for a special afternoon talk in our gardens.

Since 2020, Ai Weiwei’s monumental Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Bronze has stood as a powerful presence at LongHouse. On Friday, September 5, from 1–2 PM, the artist returns for a conversation with Alexandra Munroe, distinguished curator and LongHouse Trustee, held in the Edward Albee Amphitheater, where the sculptures are installed.

Together, they will share a rare and personal dialogue shaped by years of friendship and mutual respect. 

Don’t miss this unique chance to experience Ai Weiwei’s presence firsthand, in the very setting of the work that has inspired so many. A landmark moment for LongHouse, it will be remembered for years to come—and we invite you to be part of it.

Seats are limited. Early booking is essential.

About Ai Weiwei
About Alexandra Munroe

A posthumous book launch on Sunday, August 31 at 3:00pm for abstract painter and champion of Latin artists Tony Bechara to celebrate the publication of his book Annotations on Color Schemes. Speakers include LongHouse Director Carrie Rebora Barratt, artist Oscar Molina, Phong Bui from the Brooklyn Rail and curator Mago Enrique Martinez. This program offers a special opportunity to purchase an advance copy of the book, provided by Lisson Gallery, ahead of its official November 2025 release.

About Annotations on Color Schemes
Puerto Rico–born, New York–based artist Tony Bechara (born 1942) served as board president of El Museo del Barrio for 15 years, while also honing his own geometric abstraction process. Dividing his canvas into hundreds of quarter-inch squares, Bechara meticulously fills each space in with complementary colors. The resulting grid paintings thus evoke a variety of cultural influences: from Seurat’s pioneering pointillism to hard-edge abstraction, traditional weaving and 8-bit "pixel art" of the last half century. In keeping with Bechara’s richly chromatic oeuvre, this artist’s book is inspired by Bechara’s notes and color formulas that form the basis for his acrylic paintings. It features over 130 illustrations, with foldouts and multiple materials, as well as a glossary of key motifs that introduces Bechara’s personal artistic language to the public for the first time.

About Tony Bechara
Tony Bechara’s  richly-hued abstract paintings employ the grid as the foundational element for his exploration of color principles, with a particular focus on the interplay between organization and randomness. Using strips of masking tape, he painstakingly lays out multicolor fields and their overall rhythm is determined by a process that is systematic but designed to encourage combinations of color to emerge by chance. The division of the surface of the painting into small modular boxes is similar to the effect of pixels; the gaze is constantly in motion. Bechara presents the viewer with their retinal and neurological relationship to color, balancing one’s immediate impression of hue and the overarching logic of pattern.

Tony Bechara was born in Puerto Rico in 1942 and lives and works in New York City. He attended Georgetown Law School and New York University, and  later studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the New York School of Visual Art. In the 1970s and 80s, Bechara was included in exhibitions organized by the Boulder, Colorado based Criss-Cross pattern printing collective and featured work in the group exhibition ‘Islamic Allusions’ at the Alternative Museum in New York. In 1980 he received a fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. Bechara has had solo exhibitions at El Museo del Barrio, New York in 1988; Alternative Museum in 1988; Artists Space in New York in 1993 and el Museo del Arte Puerto Rico in 2008. Recently, Bechara has participated in exhibitions ‘With Pleasure: Pattern and Decoration in American Art, 1972-1985; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, (2019), which travelled to the Hessel Museum of Art, CCS Bard, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, (2021); ‘Point of Departure: Abstraction 1958-Present’, Sheldon Museum of Art, Lincoln, NE (2021); and ‘Artists Choose Parrish”, Parrish Art Museum, NY, (2023).  His work can be found in numerous public and private collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; El Museo del Barrio, NY; Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico and the Sheldon Museum of Art, University of Nebraska, NE.

Beyond his artistic career, Tony Bechara has a strong commitment to community service, serving as an active board member for several organizations. Currently, he is the Chairman Emeritus on the board of El Museo del Barrio, and he also serves on the boards of Studio in a School and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. As Chairman of the Board at El Museo del Barrio,
Tony Bechara has played a pivotal leadership role in
the institution’s transformation into a nationally and internationally recognized LatinX and Latin
American museum.

What better way to entertain house guests, plan a creative date night, or kick off the weekend by unwinding in the beauty of the gardens, than to enjoy a Twilight Tour? Limited to a small group of 20, these walks are led by our knowledgeable and passionate docents. While visiting the gardens at dusk, you will see both our plantings and art in a most favorable light. Once a month on Thursdays, June 26, July 31, August 28 and September, 25.

Spend a summer evening painting in the gardens with artist and instructor Karyn Mannix  on Friday, August 29 from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Whether you're new to the canvas or brushing up your skills, Karyn’s approachable, step-by-step guidance will help you create your own acrylic work of art - no experience necessary. Surrounded by the beauty of LongHouse at golden hour, it’s the perfect way to unwind, express yourself, and take home art that captures the moment - and your creativity.

Materials are provided, or you are welcome to bring your own and feel free to bring a drink and snack.

Karyn Mannix, born in New York, has worked across nearly every facet of the art world. She began her career as a fashion and costume designer, studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology. By the age of 21, her clothing line had already appeared in feature films, Vogue Magazine, the cover of Women’s Wear Daily, and on Cyndi Lauper’s HBO tour. Her designs also featured in Michael Mann’s Crime Stories TV series, were sold by Patricia Field, and displayed alongside Donna Karan at Bloomingdale’s in New York City.

Her career evolved to include freelance illustration for WWD and French Connection; window installations for Bergdorf Goodman, Diane von Furstenberg, and Barneys New York; and set and prop design for numerous theater troupes.

After relocating to East Hampton, Karyn earned a second degree in Postmodern Art Theory and Criticism, which led to roles as curator, critic, columnist, gallerist, educator, and eventually founder of an art school. The former owner of four brick-and-mortar galleries, she has since streamlined her practice into life as a private art dealer, representing artists from around the world.

Throughout it all, Karyn has continued to create her own art, recently added electric bass to her creative pursuits, and published her first book, If You’re an Artist…101 Tips. She currently serves as the arts educator at the Wainscott School.

Mannix Studio

The Mannix Project

The final experience in the InsiderOutsider series on Sunday, September 7, 3:00 pm presents Savannah LeCornu, a self-taught artist from Ketchikan, Alaska. She is Tsimshian, Haida, and Nimiipuu (Nez Perce). A self-taught visual artist who focuses on creating art that is accessible and celebrates Indigenous peoples, Savannah will talk about her drawings and paintings in both digital and traditional formats, in addition to her beadwork. She will explain her work in formline and plateau, or ledger art styles, and how she strives to create modern, accessible art that celebrates Indigenous peoples while inviting the audience to rethink any preconceived notions they may have. 

Participants will be invited to participate in abstract collaging. You will be provided with paper materials to create small, abstract collages that may be reconstructed into larger pieces later this year. The goal is to create something vague that the artist can work from later for an exhibit titled "reconstruction."

InsiderOutsider: New Voices in the Art World is a dynamic conversation series spotlighting underrepresented artists who challenge convention, expand the boundaries of contemporary art, and invite deeper dialogue. Moderated by artist and curator Mago, this year’s series is presented in collaboration with Jeremy Dennis and the artists-in-residence of Ma’s House, a center for Indigenous and BIPOC artists. Together, we’ll explore the creative practices and personal narratives shaping today’s evolving art landscape. All InsiderOutsider talks are free for students and with general admission.

Savannah LeCornu: Savannah is an Indigenous artist and theatre maker. She is most known for her "Still Here" series which highlights the perseverance of Indigenous peoples who are very much still here. She received a B.A. in Theatre at Western Washington University where she concentrated in lighting design and playwriting. She has worked for Mount Baker Theatre as the Lead Lighting Technician and for WWU's Theatre and Dance Department as the Production Manager. In 2022 she was the recipient of the Spring Native American Fellowship from the Ucross Foundation. She was recently awarded the Harpo Foundation Fellowship for Native American Artists by the Vermont Studio Center and completed a residency there in the fall of 2023. You can find more of her work at savannahpantsart.

Jeremy Dennis & Ma's House: The Ma’s House project is being led by artist and photographer Jeremy Dennis. Dennis is a contemporary fine art photographer and a tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton, NY. In his work, he explores indigenous identity, culture, and assimilation.
Ma's House  Jeremy Dennis

Mago: Mago Enrique Martinez is a Latinx queer artist and curator whose multidisciplinary work -spanning installation, cultural programming, and creative direction - centers Latinx heritage, queerness, and collective memory to foster community connection. Rooted in collaboration and adaptability, Martinez engages diverse communities to expand curatorial norms and create participatory spaces that explore identity and social cohesion. Through inclusive, transformative art, he uplifts underrepresented voices and celebrates cultural resilience across disciplines.

The InsiderOutsider series is made possible with support from Agnes Gund and the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning and County Legislator Ann Welker. 

Alice Hope in Conversation + Film Screening
Saturday, September 13 | 6–8 PM

At the Fly’s Eye Dome, Alice Hope’s installation True Value sets the stage for an evening of art and film. Hope will be in conversation with James Salomon, art dealer and curator at large, discussing the practice and the inspiration behind her work. Following the talk, we’ll screen “Ethereal: Alice Hope Art” by filmmaker Lana Jokel, who will be present, offering an intimate portrait of the artist and her creative journey.

About Alice Hope
About Lana Jokel
About James Salomon

Sunday, September 14 | 11:00am and 2:00pm

Japanese Tea Ceremony & Workshop

Limited to 20 guests per session

Please come and enjoy a tranquil afternoon with a bowl of authentic matcha tea and sweets from Kyoto with the beautiful fall garden of LongHouse as a backdrop.

Chado, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, is a spiritual and aesthetic discipline for refinement of the self. Since the 12^thcentury, matcha has been offered to the Buddhist monks, aristocracy and samurai lords in Japan. The Grand Tea Master, Sen Rikyu, established the foundation for Chado with Zen inspired Wabi-Sabi in the 16^th century.

Ayako Souryo Takamoto, the great granddaughter of the 14^th Grand Tea Master, and Yoko Sanada, a long-time LongHouse friend, will present an authentic Urasenke Chado, followed by the matcha making workshop.

September 28, 2–4:00pm
$200 Members | $225 Non Members

Discover the art of bonsai through the eyes of a sculptor.

Join Benjamin Keating—whose cherished works are part of the LongHouse landscape—for an intimate, hands-on workshop. Work directly with the artist in stone steel and with a live tree to create a living sculpture that you will take home. Participants will work on carving lava rock and attaching steel to act as a container for a bonsai tree. Partake in this rare opportunity to work with and create an artist edition that you get to own and enjoy.

All materials are provided. No experience necessary—just curiosity and a love of nature as art.

Benjamin Keating, Sculptor & Bonsai Artist

Benjamin Keating is a New York–based sculptor, poet, and bonsai artist celebrated for seamlessly combining molten bronze with living trees to create “living sculpture.” He operates his own foundry in New Jersey, casting works both for his own pieces and for prominent artists. His cherished bonsai sculptures—featured in The New Yorker and exhibited at Tripoli Gallery—often incorporate custom bronze containers and metal frameworks that enhance the long-term health, structure, and visual impact of each tree.

Keating’s sculptural works are part of the LongHouse Reserve collection, where they are admired for their refined craftsmanship and quiet power—harmonizing with the landscape in both form and spirit.

As founder of Keating Foundry, he has collaborated with renowned contemporary artists including Kiki Smith, Robert Longo, Julian Schnabel, and Nicole Eisenman. His own work has been shown internationally, from Mana Contemporary and Metro Pictures to the Venice Biennale, in exhibitions curated by figures such as Phong Bui and Vito Schnabel.

Keating is also a dedicated educator, having taught sculpture and foundry arts at Columbia University, Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts, and Johnson Atelier. Whether working in bronze or bonsai, he approaches each piece as a collaboration between permanence and growth—inviting viewers to experience nature and sculpture in continual dialogue.

Step inside the radical, mind-bending spaces of the 1960s and ’70s with author and design historian Alastair Gordon on Sunday, October 5 at 3:00pm. Starting with Charles Forberg—architect of LongHouse and the Electric Circus nightclub—Gordon takes us from psychedelic nightclubs to communes, geodesic domes, and beyond, in this vivid talk inspired by his book Spaced Out: Radical Environments of the Psychedelic Sixties.

Anchored in LongHouse history, the journey begins with Forberg’s womb-like interior for the legendary Electric Circus in New York’s East Village, where the Velvet Underground played beneath swirling light projections by Tony Martin. From there, Gordon spins outward into crash pads, sensoriums, head shops, yurts, geodesic domes, and back-to-the-earth communes—radical environments that captured the utopian, free-spirited energy of the era and still reverberate in design today.

Alastair J. Gordon is an award-winning critic, cultural historian, author, and filmmaker. For more than twenty years, he wrote on art, architecture and the environment for the New York Times and in 2008 became Contributing Editor on design for WSJ, the Wall Street Journal Magazine. Gordon’s essays have been published in many other publications including Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Le Monde, Architectural Record, New York Observer, House & Garden and Dwell. In addition to his critical journalism, Gordon has published more than 28 books on art, architecture, and environment, including such critically acclaimed titles as Weekend Utopia, Naked Airport, Spaced Out, Theater of Shopping, Arquitectonica, Romantic Modernist, Island Follies, and Wandering Forms. In 2016, he launched “Poetics of Place,” a critical writing program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and has taught and lectured at many other institutions. Alastair is Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Gordon de Vries Studio, a publishing imprint that specializes in books about the human environment. As Publisher’s Weekly wrote "Gordon's eye for the convergence of art, architecture and commerce is unerring."

Earlier in his career, Gordon was General Editor of The Princeton Papers on Architecture. He received an MFA from Yale and has won numerous prizes for his critical writing and scholarship, including fellowships from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Yale University, and a special citation for ‘Excellence in Criticism’ from the American Institute of Architects. Alastair grew up summering in Amagansett and started his journalism career writing a design column for the East Hampton Star. In addition to creating our Long Island Modern series he has curated exhibitions at both Guild Hall in East Hampton and the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton and is currently making a feature documentary about east-end architect Norman Jaffe. 

Visit the twelfth edition of our popular exhibition Planters ON+OFF the Ground in the Squash Court at LongHouse, originally on view until Labor Day and extended through October 5th. Planters ON+OFF brings together artists, horticulturalists, designers, gardeners, and landscapers who let loose their imaginations and create ingeniously original garden container installations that go beyond the clay pot. This year, the exhibit also features several student collaborations, bringing fresh ideas to an always inventive mix of planters. The only restriction: each creation must be contained to 25 square feet.

A vote for the People's Choice Award took place during the July 20 opening and was announced by our guest host Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, Executive Director and Curator of the Eastville Community Historical Society. 

The winner was Mother Morel by Scott Bluedorn and Zach Bliss.

The runners up were Marybeth LaPenna Lee & Ted Tyler / LaPenna Lee Gardens and ReWild Long Island x Wittendale's Florist & Greenhouses.

Enjoy the delightful displays by these Exhibitors:

Amagansett School x Groundworks  |  Scott Bluedorn & Zach Bliss  |  Elizabeth A. Lear Landscape Associates  |  Jasmine Chamberlain / Floral Feeling  |  Hampton Rustic Landscapes  |  Brianna Hernandez  |  Marybeth LaPenna Lee & Ted Tyler / LaPenna Lee Gardens  |   ReWild Long Island x Wittendale's Florist & Greenhouses  |  Robert Boyle / RB Irrigation  |  The Salt Heir x Fenelon Landscapes  |  Hope Sandrow  |  The SHINE Studio |  Aurelio Torres & Robin Gianis  |   Whisker & Brush x Chini Alarco / Charlie & Sons Landscapes

Drip irrigation for Planters ON+OFF the Ground XII is made possible with the generous support of RB Irrigation.

Support also comes from the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning and County Legislator Ann Welker.

Adriana Barone will guide you through a transformative journey blending meditation and sound healing once a month at 9:00am on Saturday mornings May 10, June 14, July 19, August 9, September 13 and October 11.

Imagine being outdoors at the Fly's Eye Dome in the lush gardens of LongHouse, surrounded by birdsong as the soothing tones of crystal healing bowls guide you into a meditative state. Through stillness and the resonance of sound, you’ll cultivate compassionate self-awareness and expand your spirit. Supported by the energy of the group and the beauty of nature, allow your whole, messy, wonderful self to soften - releasing habitual perspectives and embracing boundless possibility in the interplay of sound and silence.

Adriana Barone is an energy healer, meditation teacher, and sound practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience. Trained in energy medicine, craniosacral therapy, and sound healing, she integrates these modalities to guide others toward healing and self-discovery. A graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, she combines spiritual, emotional, and physical practices to help individuals unlock deeper awareness. Her work is rooted in compassion, presence, and the transformative power of sound and consciousness. Learn more at adrianabarone.com

Sundays 2:00-4:00 pm

Stitch, knit, weave, bead, learn, chat, lounge, and connect in community! Drop in, bring a project of your own, interact or simply watch. 

Free with admission.

Move with mindfulness and find balance in nature. Offered on alternate Thursdays from May 29 to September 18, 10–11 AM, Tai Chi is a gentle practice that promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and improves strength and stability. Set against the serene backdrop of LongHouse, this class welcomes all ages and experience levels to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the beauty around you.

Join instructor Katherine Henderson in the gardens—she will meet you at the Gatehouse after you park.

Tai Chi is also offered on select Saturdays: Sign up for a Saturday session here

Once a month on Saturday mornings from 10:30am to 12:30pm, LongHouse welcomes you and your furry friend for a special morning of fresh air and fun. Let your pup romp in the Amphitheater, meet fellow dog lovers & members, and enjoy a lively, social start to the day. For everyone’s enjoyment, please keep dogs within the amphitheater!

2025 Dog Days:
March 29 - meet adoptable dogs in partnership with ARF Hamptons
April 26
May 31 - meet adoptable dogs in partnership with ARF Hamptons
June 21
July 26
September 20 - meet adoptable dogs in partnership with ARF Hamptons
October 25 - Canines in Costume in partnership with ARF

Move with mindfulness and find balance in nature. Offered on alternating Saturdays from May 24 to September 27, 10–11 AM, Tai Chi is a gentle practice that promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and improves strength and stability. Set against the serene backdrop of LongHouse, this class welcomes all ages and experience levels to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the beauty around you.

Join instructor Katherine Henderson in the gardens—she will meet you at the Gatehouse after you park.

Tai Chi is also offered on select Thursdays: Sign up for a Thursday session here

Walk our sixteen acre grounds and learn about our founder Jack Lenor Larsen, the land, the gardens and art. Explore LongHouse for the first time or again throughout the season. Tours led by LongHouse Docents begin at the GateHouse and are scheduled for every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM. Tours are included with the price of admission; reservations are suggested but not required.

Please click here for general information on visiting LongHouse. 

Breathe, stretch, and unwind under the open sky. Join certified instructor Jason Amis for a Gentle Yoga session designed to cultivate balance, flexibility, and resilience in both body and mind. Set on the soft grass of the Great Lawn, this class welcomes all levels - no experience needed, just a willingness to move with ease. Bring a mat or blanket and a water bottle (we have a refill station to keep you hydrated), and start your Sunday feeling refreshed and restored.

Start your Sunday with intention. Join Jason Amis for a peaceful Walking Meditation through the gardens, where art and nature meet. As you move through towering trees and the whispering bamboo forest, Jason will guide you in bringing awareness to each step, breath, and sensation—tuning in to the sights, sounds, and textures of the world around you. No equipment needed - just comfortable clothing, walking shoes, and an open mind and heart. You might even find yourself hugging a tree.

Enjoy the peaceful beauty of LongHouse before the gates open to the public. On Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Members are invited to stroll the gardens at their own pace, soaking in the serenity of the morning light. Bring the family to the Pavilion, where activities await - we’ll have craft materials set out for you to create, experiment, and play. And on select Saturdays in July and August, our friends from Shine Studios will lead hands-on art projects for all ages. Reservations encouraged, walk-ins welcome.