Long Island Modern: Art Villages (May 25)

From the windswept slopes of Shinnecock Hills to the domes of Drop City, artists have long carved out spaces to live, work, and reimagine community. In this lively illustrated talk and conversation, cultural critic Alastair Gordon and a special guest trace the evolution of North American art colonies, enclaves, and communes from 1879 to the present. These creative experiments - some accidental, others carefully planned around shared ideals - have left lasting imprints on land use, architecture, and real estate markets, from the Hamptons to the Colorado high desert. Why do some of these communities thrive while others vanish? And what can they teach us about freedom, collaboration, and the fine line between inspiration and entropy?

With a special focus on Long Island, the talk highlights how artist-led development helped shape the region’s identity. Southampton’s Art Village (1891) transformed what was once dismissed as “wasteland” into a vibrant center of plein-air painting. Decades later, artists like Pollock and Motherwell brought new energy to the Hamptons, catalyzing waves of cultural and commercial change. From rustic cottages to salvaged domes, these spaces reflect both the ambition and fragility of artistic utopias - offering a lens on how creative communities grapple with planning, property, and personality in pursuit of a more inspired way of living.