More than 100 armchairs, sofas, poufs, tables, and parasol umbrellas from the Italian furniture brand Paola Lenti will be deployed in five areas across LongHouse Reserve's 16-acre gardens from Saturday through the summer.
The arrangements feature durable and sustainable natural woods, organic color palettes, rich textures, weather-resistant fabrics, and eco-friendly fibers.
Paola Lenti was founded 30 years ago in Meda, Italy, the main production district for contemporary furniture in that country. Its collections include seating, rugs, and architectural structures for indoor and outdoor use.
"LongHouse is a union of art and nature, with a mission to inspire living with art in all forms," said Carrie Rebora Barratt, director of the East Hampton venue. "Our collaboration with Paola Lenti is a true fulfillment of that mission. Paola Lenti is a master of color who took inspiration from LongHouse’s habitat to curate the palette for the exhibition. The spaces will offer LongHouse visitors very special respite from the summer sun."
"My sister Anna and I had the honor and pleasure, a few years ago, of meeting [LongHouse Founder] Jack Lenor Larsen," said Paola Lenti. “A sincere understanding immediately formed between us, based on a common vision of nature, its importance for humans, the benefit derived from enjoying art in all its expressions, and the role of craftsmanship as a privileged means to give soul to things."
Studying the characteristics and performance of yarns and experimenting with different materials have enabled the company to develop over the years a wide range of high-tech fabrics for both exteriors and interiors. Among its many design awards are the Red Dot Design Award, an annual international competition; the German Design Award, which recognizes projects that are pioneering in the German and international design landscape, and the Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.
Paola Lenti designs are available at West | Out East, 25 Newtown Lane in East Hampton.
Talking Textiles
A conversation between Lynne Cooke, a curator and art scholar, and Liz Collins, an artist known for her textile installations, will take place at LongHouse on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Ms. Cooke, senior curator of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art, is the curator of "Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction," which opened there in March.
With a background in fashion and fine arts, Ms. Collins merges traditional textile techniques with innovative approaches to create immersive environments. The first artist in residence at LongHouse, she is working on site, engaging with visitors, and consulting on programming.
Tickets are $35, $25 for members.
