Art & Soul: Hamptons’ Wows Festival Goers with Stellar Line-Up of Artists, Filmmakers, Live Performers, and a Culinary Tasting & Sipping Experience
NEW YORK — On July 19 & July 20, 2024 ART & SOUL: Hamptons, in partnership with the Southampton African American Museum and the Southampton Arts Center, curated a weekend filled with art and cultural experiences attracting visitors from all over the country. The weekend festival celebrates influential and emerging BIPOC artists living in the Hamptons community and beyond. The series of experimental events encourages people to visit Southampton to engage and connect with artists of color, as well as support art and cultural organizations who are passionate about diversity in the arts.
Day One kicked off at the Southampton Arts Center — a hub that is helping to strengthen arts and culture for the entire community. Invited guests and attendees were entertained with live music by flutist Dwayne Kerr. Featured artists include Art Sims and Reynoir Lewis. A culinary tasting presented by the Black Culinary Expo featured Chef Sandy Pierre of 1804 Fyete, Chef Ronica Copes of Five Star Crab Cakes, Chef Cheryl Grigg of Chara’s Kitchen & Catering, Chef Shernell Prescott of KP Customized Kreationz, More Popcorn and Tasty Isles by KP Customized Kreationz, Chef K Martin of 13 Spice N’ Everything Nice, Chef Ann of Creative Kitchen, Chef Doug Gee of Gee It’s Good!, Banana Pudding by Jaya, and The Nourish Spot BK. New England Sweetwater presented a sipping experience showcasing their spirits and cocktails which are handcrafted in New Hampshire at their family-owned distillery. To enhance the Hamptons’ experience, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne offered their bubbly and champagne conversations. The American Heart Association hosted a wellness lounge and gave away summer stylish tote bags, light-up rings, and tons of goodies. Beautiful Amore Skincare hosted a beauty bar offering complimentary prosecco and gifted their popular vegan body butter. A short film screening of Wouldn’t Be Nuthin’, a love story that stars Tristan Mack Wilds (The Wire) and Shannon Thornton (P-Valley), added another level of entertainment. Following the film, Brenda Simmons of the Southampton African American Museum moderated a film talkback with co-writer/co-producer Greg Cally that left the audience wanting to know more about the Black love drama. The evening concluded with the Art After Dark after party hosted in the sculpture garden, with a music set by DJ CJ.
Day Two began with a private guided museum tour of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio led by Jeremy Dennis. Guests learned about the history, culture, and contributions of the Native American Shinnecock Tribe. Following the art tour, visitors participated in the Art Walk. The first stop was at the Southampton African American Museum (SAAM), founded by Brenda Simmons, who premiered the latest collection by artist Alvin Clayton. The second stop was at the Southampton Arts Center where various artists had their artwork featured in the ‘Beyond The Streets: Post Graffiti’ art exhibition. The third and final stop was at Hidden Gem NY, a home décor and lifestyle boutique owned by sisters Tanya Willock and Temidra Willock-Morsch. After some shopping in the Hamptons, a private VIP brunch was co-hosted by Brown Skin Brunchin’, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, and Rare Champagne, and held at brunch hot spot 75 Main Restaurant.
Later in the evening, the festival wrapped up with an art opening reception celebrating artist Alvin Clayton’s residency at the Southampton African American Museum. Clayton’s collection “Reflections of Time: Through the Eyes of a Caribbean-American Artist” is open to the public for viewing through October 2024. A fireside chat moderated by the Southampton African American Museum followed. Live music and entertainment was provided by Keisha Martin and The Jamrock Soul X-perience band, master kora player Yacouba Sissoko and SIYA African band, and a special performance by ballet dancer Audrey Borst. A screening of CROWN, a short film that celebrates Black hair, was presented by co-writer/co-director Karisma Jay, who participated in a panel discussion about celebrating Black hair, along with Black hair expert Zakkiyah Pasley and performer Audrey Borst. The screening was powered by Ziggy Inspired, LLC, an organic hair care brand, and the panel was moderated by Brenda Simmons. Caribbean soul food catered by Chef Sandy Pierre of 1804 Fyete, complimented the Caribbean summer cocktails sponsored by New England Sweetwater. An after-party ended the night with music vibes by DJ Infmatick, and guests took home their swag.
Gift Bag Sponsors: Beautiful Amore Skincare, Ziggy Inspired, Loft81 Home, brownkind, SÁFO Hair, Instant Pot® RIO
, DAX Hair Care, BIORÉ, Care.ē.on, Ban Deodorant, Still Standing Spray, Owl’s Brew, MELA Water, Suja Organic, VIP Smiles by Dr. Catrise Austin, Spry Dental Defense by Xlear, Scott’s Protein Balls, Taste Salud, ZEN Skincare by ESNAVI, JeTommesWay, and the American Heart Association.
Event Partners
Southampton African American Museum was founded and created by Brenda Simmons to promote an understanding and appreciation of African American culture by creating programs that will preserve the past, encourage learning, and enhance the life of the community.
Southampton Arts Center provides a dynamic venue to present the highest quality programming to the entire community through partnerships with a diverse slate of world-class artists, performers, educators, and cultural institutions.
WLNG 92.1 FM is an oldies/adult hits radio station licensed to Sag Harbor, New York, and serving the Hamptons and Eastern Long Island, but over the years it has reached out, and today can be heard in the Towns of Brookhaven, and the Coastline of Connecticut and Rhode Island. WLNG is owned and operated by Bark Out Loud Dogs Media, LLC, a company led by meteorologist Bill Evans and his wife Sandra Foschi.
ABOUT ART & SOUL: HAMPTONS
ART & SOUL: Hamptons is a weekend festival designed to highlight, showcase, and celebrate art created by influential and emerging Black, Indigenous, and Artists of Color living in the Hamptons and beyond. It was created by Yaya Reyes, who curates a series of experimental events to encourage people to visit Southampton to engage and connect with artists of color, as well as support art and cultural organizations who are passionate about diversity in the arts. The weekend consists of an art walk, an outdoor art exhibition, culinary experiences, spirit and cocktail tastings, live music and entertainment, film screenings, fireside chats, VIP lounges, supporting local Black-owned businesses, and learning about the Native American Shinnecock tribe.
Visit Art & Soul: Hamptons