Insight Sunday With the American Artists’ Hand Archive

As part of its Insight Sunday series, on Sunday, November 6, at 10:30 a.m., The Church in Sag Harbor will welcome Vanessa Hoheb and Thomas Donahue of the American Artists’ Hand Archive who will discuss the current exhibition “Hand Made.”

Founder and director of the archive Hoheb and artistic director Donahue will speak about the 31 bronze life castings of acclaimed artists’ hands currently displayed on The Church’s mezzanine. The exhibition includes castings of the hands of artists like Jasper Johns, Martin Puryear, Maya Lin, among many others. Listen as Hoheb and Donahue reflect on the intimate casting process, sharing stories of collaboration with the artists on the pose and individualized patina that depicts their unique personas and careers. In celebration of curiosity and creativity through handmade crafts and touch, the audience — under supervision — will be able to handle the sculptures. This will be the only opportunity for the public to touch and feel the casts and meet the founders of this extraordinary project.

The American Artists’ Hand Archive was established with the mission to assemble an ongoing archive of superbly crafted bronze casts of artists’ hands with the intent to exhibit them to the public. Hoheb is the founder and director of the archive. She began her apprenticeship at age 17 in the studio of her father, Bruce Hoheb, mastering the skills and techniques of sculptural enlarging, mold-making, bronze casting, and restoration. Thomas Donahue, the archive’s artistic director, is a classically trained artist. His expertise is in sculpture, historic preservation and architectural design. He curates a vast collection of early 19th century plaster molds, has researched, and restored important historic interiors from Providence to Atlanta, worked as an artist designing for Tiffany & Co., and completed many private commissions.

Tickets to the Insight Sunday lecture are $15 at thechurchsagharbor.org. The Church is at 48 Madison Street, Sag Harbor.