What's New At LongHouse

Sitting on the second floor balcony and watching a momma barn swallow feeding her baby birds while enjoying the company of Jack Lenor Larsen and Matko Tomicic over a lunch last month, it’s easy to see why Mr. Larsen loves LongHouse Reserve.

The reserve in East Hampton—which the legendary textile designer, author and collector founded—contains not only 16 acres of public gardens, dozens of large-scale outdoor pieces of sculpture and exhibition space for a wide-ranging collection of artwork, it’s also Mr. Larsen’s home.

While taking a tour of the newest works on view, “Accumulations,” an ambitious exhibition of 500 pieces in craft media spanning the last 100 years, Mr. Larsen, who acted as curator, stopped to discuss some of his favorite works. Standing in front of “Four Decades” by Dale Chihuly, Mr. Larsen shared a few secrets about America’s most famous glass blower.

“He’s my most successful protege,” Mr. Larsen said. “I convinced him to blow glass. We were both weavers. He was trying to weave strips of glass, unsuccessfully, so I taught him how to do it.”

Nearby on the same table is a smaller work of Mr. Chihuly. This one, a double-layered pink tinged-bowl which contains four smaller globes, was a birthday present.

“I think it’s the best piece I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Larsen said as he gazed upon the glass.

Just then, another piece of interest caught his eye, something Mr. Larsen created himself: a colorful tapestry commissioned by the Sear’s Bank and Trust. But he quickly moved along to a nearby chair, shaped like lips and covered in wavy blue and red fabric. The piece was created by his friend and contemporary, Pierre Paulin, and re-covered with a beachwear fabric designed by Mr. Larsen.

The chair is one of many in the gallery room, and throughout the grounds at LongHouse.

“We attract a lot of people who like to sit,” he explained of his large collection of chairs and benches. “You should stop and take a better look.”

And for those who want to take the looks home they see at the reserve home, Mr. Tomicic, the executive director of LongHouse, reported that LongHouse now boasts a gift shop. The INstore shop features items hand-selected by Mr. Larsen, including a planter designed personally for LongHouse by Yoko Ono, Cassini Scissors by Lerche, WASARA biodegradable tableware and a pillow made of Mr. Larsen’s iconic Magnum design.

Coming up on Saturday, July 21, the annual LongHouse Reserve gala will be held. Cocktails will be served from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by dinner, an awards ceremony and an auction.

This year’s theme will be “Compose Yourself in White, Black and Yellow Attire” in honor of Dorothy Lichtenstein, who along with Robert Wilson, will be honored this year.

The evening will also include a special toast to Mr. Larsen in celebration of his 85th birthday. A special performance by Philip Glass and the Art in Motion Dance Theater is planned for the gala.

Tickets for the benefit start at $750 and can be purchased by calling 329-3568 or online at longhouse.org.