Upcoming Programs At Parrish Art Museum Focus On East End Ecological Issues

“We are pleased to be working with The Nature Conservancy and expanding on the themes of conservation and care for the environment present in Maya Lin’s Platform project,” expressed Andrea Grover, Parrish Art Museum Curator of Special Projects and organizer of the upcoming events. In conjunction with Platform: Maya Lin, a special exhibition on view through Monday, October 13, 2014, the Parrish along with The Nature Conservancy are holding two programs which draw attention to Lin’s interest in the environment, and also intend to raise awareness about important East End ecological concerns.

On Saturday, September 27, the East End organizations will hold “Watershed,” a lecture at the Parrish featuring eight speakers including architects, writers, scientists, artists, local political leaders, and water advocates, who will give short-format presentations of twenty slides for twenty seconds each on water issues in the region. “Watershed is just the beginning of what we hope will be an ongoing dialogue about the changing face of our environment and landscape, an essential element of our daily lives, as well as the Museum’s collection. In addition, by bringing participants out into the landscape with the guided tour of Accabonac Harbor, we want to offer a holistic way of enhancing visitors’ understanding and appreciation of both Lin’s project and the actual place referenced in one of the recycled silver works in her exhibition.” The presentation will begin at 11 a.m.

Speakers will include Nancy Kelley, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy on Long Island; Glynis Berry AIA, a LEED accredited architect with the U.S. Green Building Council who serves on the Suffolk County Planning Commission; Edwina von Gal, East Hampton-based landscape designer and President of the Perfect Earth Project, whose mission is to protect human health and the environment by promoting toxin free lawns and landscapes; Fred Stelle AIA, founding partner of Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects and trustee of the Long Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy; Hampton Bays bayman Ken Mades, whose local catches include everything from blue craw crabs to butterfish; Southampton resident and Executive Director of the Lloyd Magothy Water Trust, Thomas McAbee; Anna Throne-Holst, Southampton Town Supervisor who is working with Governor Cuomo on initiatives to improve water quality and resiliency on Long Island; and artist and teacher at the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons the New School for Design in New York City, Allan Wexler, whose work in the fields of architecture, design, and fine art explores human activity and the built environment.

On Sunday, September 28, two guides from The Nature Conservancy will lead a one-hour guided walking tour of Accabonac Harbor’s marsh and upland habitat, a vital East End tidal marsh systems. The tour begins at 10 a.m. at the Merrill Lake Sanctuary and finishes at East Hampton-based Landscape Architect Edwina von Gal’s property, where participants can see Maya Lin’s installation, Avalanche. Walk attendees should meet at the Merrill Lake Sanctuary, on the east side of Springs Fireplace Road, 5.5 miles north of the intersection with North Main Street in East Hampton. Participants are encouraged to wear long pants, closed shoes, and bring binoculars.

Tickets to both programs are $10, free for members, children, and students, and include Museum admission.

Parrish Art Museum is located at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. For more information, call 631-283-2118 or visit parrishart.org.