The Parrish Art Museum
Get messy, get creative and have a great time learning about art at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. This charming small museum features first-class ever-changing exhibits of fine American art from the 19th century to the present, with particular focus on the artists of the East End. This is an art museum, not a children’s museum, and while the whimsical sculptures currently on display in the sculpture garden invite play, they most definitely cannot be climbed on. But while running in the galleries and touching the art is definitely forbidden, the museum offers a really marvelous and extensive program of art workshops, camps, tours, and performances aimed at teaching children and their families how to appreciate fine art and how to create art for themselves. Many of these programs are completely free, although advanced registration may be required.
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Family Tours
The museum is dedicated to encouraging families and children to enjoy and understand art. It offers special family tours of each new exhibit, explaining the art in a way that children can understand and offering families a chance to try their own hand at creating art inspired by what they have seen. The next Family Tour and Art Workshop will be held on Sunday, June 3, at 2pm and will cover the current exhibit, "EST-3: Southern California in New York." These tours are free and no advance reservations are required.
Saturday Art Workshops
The museum also offers four-week Saturday Art Workshops during the school year where children (pre-K and up) can explore a variety of media and create their own works of art based on current exhibitions at the Parrish. The current workshops examine the "Landmarks of New York" depicted in a collection of 90 beautiful photographs on exhibit at the museum in late June.
The June workshops will be held concurrently at the John Jermain Public Library in Sag Harbor and the Hampton Bays Public Library from Saturday, June 2, to Saturday, June 16, 11am–12pm. The fourth session on Saturday, June 23, will be a 12pm tour of the exhibition at the Parrish Art Museum for the participants and their families. These workshops are free, but advanced registration is required as space is limited.
Hampton Bays Public Library
52 Ponquoque Ave., Hampton Bays
Call 631-728-6241 to register.
John Jermain Public Library
201 Main St., Sag Harbor
Call 631-725-0049 to register.
Summer Drawing & Painting for High School Students
(ages 13 and up)
On summer Thursdays from July 12th through August 9th 6–9pm, the museum will offer a workshop in Drawing and Painting for High School Students with Julie O’Daly. The class will focus on strengthening drawing and painting skills for students considering applying to a fine-arts-degree program. Students will create a portfolio based on a variety of experiences in the formal, technical, and expressive means available to an artist. Members $150, nonmembers $225. The program is free to Southampton High School students. Advance registration is required. Call 631-283-2118 ext. 21 for more information or to register.
KidSummer Art Camp
This wonderful art camp is already full for the coming summer but is well worth remembering for next. Visiting artists lead weekly workshops, which may also include field trips to nearby museums. Campers have a unique opportunity to learn, experiment, and create in a number of media including painting, drawing, pottery, sculpture, photography, printmaking, collage, textiles, and more. All materials and snacks are provided, but campers must bring their own lunch. Members $375 per week, nonmembers $475 per week. To join the wait list call 631-283-2118. A camp brochure is available online here.
KidSummer Art Workshops
The camp is full, but there is still space available in many of these shorter summer art workshops for children.
Collaborative Creations for Ages 3 and 4 and their Care Givers
Thursdays, 9:30-10:30am
Session 1: July 12, 19, 26, and August 2
Session 2: August 9, 16, 23, and 30
This workshop will give children and their accompanying caregivers a chance to experience painting, collage, and sculpture as they explore the visual arts and their own creativity. Members $55, nonmembers $75. Register online here.
The Creative Studio for Ages 5 and 6
Wednesday to Friday, 11am–2pm
Session 1: July 11, 12, and 13
Session 4: August 15, 16, and 17
Children will have fun learning painting, printmaking, sculpture and collage. Children should bring their lunch each day. Costs: Members $130, Nonmembers $160. Register Online here.
To be added to the waiting list for the July 18–20 or the August 8–10 sessions please call the museum at 631-283 -2118, ext. 30
The Creative Studio for Ages 7 and up
Wednesday to Friday, 11am–2pm
Session 1: July 25, 26, and 27
Session 2: August 1, 2, and 3
Session 3: August 22, 23, and 24
Session 4: August 29, 30, and 31
Children will learn painting, printmaking, sculpture and drawing. Children should bring their lunch each day. Costs: Members $130, Nonmembers $160. Register Online here.
After-School Classes and Vacation Camps
Come next fall, the Parrish Art Museum will once again offer a full program of after-school art classes for children of all ages as well as a new program of Saturday Art Workshops and Art Camps to keep your creative kiddies busy and happy during school vacations. These classes and camps are very popular, and advanced registration is necessary.
Current Exhibits
The current exhibit at the Parrish entitled "EST–3: Southern California in New York: Los Angeles Art" from the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection runs until June 17th. It will be followed by "The Landmarks of New York," a photographic collection of some 90 wonderful images that will be on exhibit from June 24 until September 5th. The forthcoming June Family Workshops described above will be based on this exhibit. The sculpture garden currently hosts the playful 11-foot-high sculptures named “Jacks” by American artist Mel Kendrick. This installation will be on view through June 2012.
The Museum Is Expanding
The Parrish Art Museum is currently constructing a brand new museum in Watermill, which will double the exhibition space, allowing the museum for the first time to put some of its wonderful collection of American art on permanent view. The new space is due to open this year and will also contain studio space for art programs and a café.
Hours and admission
Open 7 days May 22–September 10
Monday through Saturday 11am–5pm
Sunday 1pm–5pm
The museum is closed on Tuesdays from September 11–May 21, 2012
The museum will be closed for installations June 18–June 23, 2012
Suggested donation: adults $5, students with ID and seniors $3, children under 18 free. Events and special programs may have additional fees.
Directions
Parrish Art Museum
25 Jobs Lane
Southampton
The museum is located on Jobs Lane two buildings down from Main Street, Southampton. Parking is in the town's municipal parking lot directly behind the museum's sculpture garden. This parking lot is quite large but can become crowded during summer weekends so leave some time to circle for a spot.