'East End Collected' Is Back At Southampton Arts Center

Southampton Arts Center is returning with “East End Collected,” an exhibition now in its sixth iteration. Conceived and curated by Southampton artist Paton Miller, “EEC6” will open Saturday, January 30, and run through Sunday, April 11.

“East End Collected” draws attention to the large population of artists living in the region and reflects Miller’s vision of the East End as an ideal environment for artists to create work. In this sixth iteration of the popular exhibition, Miller continues with the intention of never showing the same artist twice. Since its 2015 launch, the “EEC” series has featured over 200 individuals. Through this exhibition, Southampton Arts Center celebrates 35 new artists.

“EEC6” artists include: Linda K. Alpern, Mary Boochever, Deborah Buck, Dominic Cantasano, Isadora Capraro, Philippe Cheng, Joe Chierchio, Jerry Cooke, James Croak, Noel de Lesseps, Mary Delaney, John Dios, Melody Guini, Candace Hill, Dennis Lawrence, Christina Matthai, Gerald Monroe, Ryan Moore, Shimon Okshteyn, Zach Osif, Patrick Peters, Leila Pinto, William Quigley, Doug Reina, Bastienne Schmidt, Christine Sciulli, Anne Seelbach, Agathe Snow, Kevin Teare, Catherine Van Milders, Maria Vasconcelos, Linh Vivace, Claire Watson, Carol Weinberg, Suzanne Wetanson and John Whelan.

This year’s exhibition also pays tribute to two “East End Collected” alumni who died in 2020 — David Geiser (“EEC1”) and Shimon Okshteyn (“EEC4”).

“We are delighted to open 2021 with ‘East End Collected,’ the series that helped establish SAC as the dynamic multidisciplinary center it is today,” said Tom Dunn, SAC’s executive director. “Paton has once again assembled a dynamic and exciting group of East End artists. We simply cannot wait to share this show with our community.”

Of the beloved series, Miller says, “In 2012 I was invited to a meeting to discuss the possibility of creating an arts center at 25 Jobs Lane. I was asked my opinion and I said, to what would become the founding members of the Southampton Art Center, that if they were setting about opening an arts center, to survive they must be loved.

“To achieve that, I said their focus should be on the incredible artistic depth and diversity of our immediate region. A few months later I was invited to curate the first ‘East End Collected’ exhibition,” he added. “Here we are these years later and under extreme circumstances with our sixth installment having exhibited more than 200 artists.”

Miller concluded, “I’d like to thank Amy Kirwin, Tom Dunn and the board of SAC for everything they have done to support me in exhibiting the artists of the ‘East End Collected’ series. Curating these shows has been an honor and revelatory experience.”

“East End Collected6” runs January 30 to April 11 at Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton. Galleries will be open Friday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but a $5 donation is suggested. Free gallery tours with Paton Miller will be offered on Saturdays, February 6, March 6 and April 3 at 12:30 p.m.

Free illustrated artist talks on Zoom will be offered on Thursdays, February 18 and March 18, at 7 p.m. On February 18, artists Isadora Capraro, Melody Guini, Candace Hill, Patrick Peter, Doug Reina and Kevin Teare will speak. On March 18, artists Linda K. Alpern, Jim Croak, Deborah Buck, Bastienne Schmidt, Agathe Snow and Maria Vasconcelos will speak. Visit southamptonartscenter.org for details.