Nestled in what is now Sag Harbor is Eastville: one of the oldest free Black settlements in the United States, dating back to the early 19th century. Over the decades, collective acknowledgment of this heritage has faded, but the Hamptons Black Arts Council (HBAC) is working to change that.
This Juneteenth, HBAC is pursuing its most ambitious project yet: purchasing a home to host a permanent artists’ residency for creatives of color in Sag Harbor. The group will raise funds for the project through a three-day retreat and benefit luncheon honoring Anthony Akinbola, hosted at the Watermill Center. The Nigerian-American artist will be installing new work on the grounds and sitting for a talk about his evolving practice.
Founded by Storm Ascher in 2023, HBAC was born from the young curator’s desire to rekindle a sense of Black cultural belonging on Long Island. In the years since, it has steadily grown its initiatives, curating roving shows through Ascher’s Superposition Gallery and installing historic markers across the area. Juneteenth weekend will mark the opening of “IT IS WRITTEN in the sand,” HBAC’s annual group exhibition, hosted at the Eastville Heritage House Museum this year.
It’s a kickoff to the museum’s new contemporary art collection, curated by HBAC and inaugurated with work by artists including Akinbola, whose practice often transforms durag fabric into monumental pieces exploring identity and the intimacy of belonging. Visitors will also be treated to a private tour of Guild Hall’s “Arcmanoro Niles: Forgotten Words I Never Got to Say” and a private viewing of dancer Lloyd Knight’s performance, The Drama.
With roots running far beyond this year’s summer calendar, HBAC’s programming serves as a reminder that the stories it platforms are not new additions to the East End. They have always been there.
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