Artists And The Community Uniting In The Hamptons For Wings Over Haiti Ranquitte School

Wings Over Haiti will host its 3rd annual Hamptons Artists for Haiti on Saturday, June 22. The soiree will be held at the East Hampton Airport from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The non-profit organization, which was founded by Jonathan Nash Glynn, a Sag Harbor artist and pilot, is still currently focused on building its second school, which is located in the remote, agricultural village of Ranquitte, Haiti. The school will serve hundreds of students.

“We have just built four brand new classrooms. So, this year’s proceeds will go to paying teachers, buying supplies, medical treatment and food for the kids and everything else we need to get the school off the ground,” Arthur Bijur, the Vice President of Wings Over Haiti, noted.

Hamptons Artists for Haiti will boast an incredible art show and silent auction that is once again curated by folioeast.

“This year, the annual Hamptons for Artists for Haiti benefit, which will be held at the East Hampton Airport, features a silent auction of over 80 artworks by East End artists displayed in an open hanger,” Coco Myers of folioeast shared. “Since we can’t bang a nail into the hanger walls, art will be displayed on easels and tables.”

Participating artists will include Peter Dayton, Anne Raymond, Carolyn Conrad, Perry Burns, Mary Ellen Bartley, Janet Jennings, Roisin Bateman, Mark Perry, William Pagano, Dennis Leri, Bo Parsons, Donna Green, Aurelio Torres, Mark Webber, and many, many more.

“There will be a mix of mediums—photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture—at a variety of price points and styles, abstract to representational,” Myers noted. “I’ve even included some artwork by students from the local high schools. It’s a great way to buy original, quality art and do some real good for the kids of Haiti. The money will go towards finishing a school for 400 students!”

There will also be music by DJ Giancarlo, bites by Beach House, local sips, raffle prizes – featuring fine dining at East End restaurants, airplane tours, yoga classes, boxing lessons, Naturpathica massage, art studio tours and many more – and, since it is taking place at East Hampton Airport, airplanes to explore.

Nash Glynn was inspired to found Wings Over Haiti after he transported medical supplies to Haiti in his private plane following the 2010 earthquake there. While on the ground, he came to the realization that the country was in desperate need of educational opportunities. Just three months after the earthquake, Wings Over Haiti opened The Heart School in the capital of Port Au Prince, which has more than 20 faculty members and over 170 students.

Now, the non-profit is focused on bringing educational opportunities to Ranquitte, with the hopes of impacting hundreds of children.

“We want to open in the fall, so all proceeds will pay for everything from medical treatment and food for the kids to teachers, school supplies and water,” Bijur added. “Then, as soon as we’re up and running, we’ll start fundraising for a new wing so we can make room for even more kids and grow the school a grade every year all the way through high school.”

Tickets to Hamptons Artists for Haiti are $125, but free for children 12-years-old and younger.

East Hampton Airport is located at 200 Daniels Hole Road in East Hampton. For more information, visit www.wingsoverhaiti.net.