Enriching Earth Day Programming At Hamptons-Based Arts Center Expands To Three Days

Southampton Arts Center (SAC) is hosting an “Earth Days 2018” extravaganza jam-packed with special panels, screenings, parties, and more.

“After the success of last year’s Earth Day event, we felt it was not only important to continue this year, but to expand to a full weekend that is both fun and educational,” explained Amy Kirwin, Southampton Arts Center Director of Programs. “Thanks to our dedicated committee, Earth Days 2018 has become an incredibly robust and exciting three days of dynamic programming for all ages.”

Programming, which was curated by Planning Committee Co-Chairs Elyn Kronemeyer, a SAC Board Member, and Dorothy Reilly, as well as James Ewing and Sarah Hunnewell, will begin on Friday, April 20 with a screening of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, presented with his non-profit organization, The Climate Reality Project.

The riveting 2017 documentary, a follow up to 2006’s An Inconvenient Truth, follows former United States Vice President Al Gore as he leads the fight against climate change. “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is a reboot that justifies its existence – and not just because Mr. Gore has fresh news to report on climate change since his previous multimedia presentation played in multiplexes,” Ben Kenigsberg of The New York Times said.

On Saturday, April 21, local and national experts will be featured in an all-day Earth Summit. At 9 a.m., the event will launch with a hopeful examination of renowned environmentalist Paul Hawken’s Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. Released last year, the book takes a look at realistic and bold solutions to global warming from an international coalition of notable researchers, scientists and policymakers.

Next, you can expect informative panels on Energy & Sustainavility with Gordian Raacke (Renewable Energy Long Island), Jen Garvey (Deepwater Wind), and Andrew Smith (Greenlogic); Land & Water with Bob DeLuca (Group for the East End), Edwina von Gal (Perfect Earth Project), Kevin McAllister (Defend H2O), Ann Welker (Southampton Town Trustee), Colleen Henn (Surfrider Foundation, Eastern Long Island Chapter), and Melanie Cirillo (Peconic Land Trust Director of Conservation Programs); Personal Action, including videos, ideas and a discussion that cover how you can make a difference, led by Sarah Hunnewell with Bruce Humenik (Applied Energy Group) and Joe Densieski (Wastewater Works); and Government Action, moderated by Karl Grossman, with Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Legislator Bridget Fleming, and Southampton Mayor Michael Irving.

Later on, attendees will partake in a World Café brainstorm session led by Dorothy Reilly, and an immersive Sound Meditation in the galleries with Daniel Lauter that will give guests the time to reflect on the Summit, which will conclude at 6:45 p.m.

Finally, on Earth Day (Sunday, April 22), the festivities will culminate with a celebratory free Earth Day Celebration and Fair. From 1 to 4 p.m. SAC will commemorate Earth Day with face painting, Tesla test drives, UpSculpt with Cindy Pease Roe, “Alien Bloom” workshop with Eteri and Gocha Chkadua, Andrea Cote’s The Radiance Project, Lexy Ho-Tai’s Kreate Your Own Kooker, Plastic Straw project with Janine Martel, and Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center Raptor presentations. There will also be entertainment by World Music trio Son Mundial (Bill Smith, Steve Shaughnessy, and Rodney Harris) and the opportunity to visit with vendors, including Mary Woltz and Bees’ Needs, Querencia Studio, Meatless Mondays, Westhampton Garden Club, Citizens Climate Lobby, The Green Thumb & Natural Science Organics, Peconic Land Trust, Surfrider Foundation Eastern Long Island Chapter, The Venus Project, Wastewater Works Inc., Secure the Call, Plan Bee Balms, Dark Skies Initiative, DeepWater Wind, Union Cantina, and more. Those who are interested in joining Cindy Pease Roe’s UpSculpt workshop are welcome to come with their own material, including water bottles, plastic bottles and straws, that they will use during upcycling activities.

SAC will screen additional instructional videos and environmental short films from 12 to 6 p.m.

But, before the Earth Day Celebration and Fair, don’t miss your chance to participate in the Surfrider Foundation’s shoreline cleanup at Flying Point Beach in Water Mill. The beach cleanup will take place on Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton. For more information, call 631-283-0967 or visit southamptonartscenter.org.