“Arts and Archives 6,” a benefit exhibition for the Springs Historical Society and Community Library, will open Friday at Ashawagh Hall and continue through Sunday.
This year’s iteration differs in significant ways from previous shows, according to John Haubrich, the show’s curator, an artist, and the proprietor of HaubrichArt, a pop-up gallery in Springs. “We’ve always tried to raise money to pay for the exhibition, but this time it’s a fund-raiser to get outside money to come in so that it can go to the library and the historical society. To that end, revenue streams have increased, so it’s not solely dependent on the sale of art.”
One initiative that’s new is a silent auction. The items on offer include a piece by Cindy Sherman, for which the opening bid is $500; tours of the Art Barge & D’Amico House and of Willem de Kooning’s studio (each opening at $250); a family membership to Guild Hall ($100); a Costantino Nivola print made for Judith Hope’s 1975 campaign, courtesy of Katherine Stahl ($200); a limited edition print by Pat Place ($200); a signed limited edition poster by Peter Dayton ($150), and, from Arlene Bujese, a 1950 framed drawing by Calvin Albert ($800).
Another difference is the number of participating artists, down to 20 from last year’s 50. “Each artist is giving from two to four works, and I hope to keep each artist’s work together as a unit,” said Haubrich.
The participating artists are Kirsten Benfield, Jennifer Cross, Steven Corsano, Dayton, James DeMartis, Zoe Denahy, Barbara DiLorenzo, Idoline Duke, Denise Gale, Elizabeth Geissler, Kurt Giehl, Elaine Grove, Virva Hinnemo, Audrey Lee, Christa Maiwald, George Negroponte, Place, Mark Perry, Ted Tyler, and Ross Watts.
Archival artwork is another component of the show. Bujese has provided pieces by Ronald Stein, William King, Conrad Marca-Relli, John Little, Connie Fox, Ray Parker, and Alexander Russo. From Stahl comes a Nivola lithograph.
This year’s historical display, organized by Mary Beth LaPenna, will focus on the founding and history of Springs. LaPenna plans to borrow some original pieces from the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum.
“The focus of the show is to celebrate the original Abstract Expressionists out here,” said Haubrich, noting that the curator’s talk, set for Sunday afternoon at 2, will feature Stahl talking about Nivola, Helen Harrison discussing Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, and anecdotes from Bujese, “who knew everyone.”
A reception for members of the historical society will happen tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m., while the artists’ reception is set for Saturday from 5 to 7. The gallery will be open tomorrow from 2 to 7, Saturday from noon to 7, and Sunday from noon to 4.
