LongHouse Greets the Season

Leaves are budding. Daffodils are popping. Tulips are a-bloom. What would make this South Fork springtime scene more complete? “Rites of Spring,” the official opening event of LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton would.

Every year around this time the garden and sculpture center opens its doors for regular hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This Saturday will mark the official season kickoff and the big reveal of what new exhibitions and artworks are on view this year.

In the gallery is “LongHouse Collects,” a compendium of new acquisitions that herald LongHouse’s metamorphosis from private residence to public museum in the coming years. A sampling includes Sue Lawty’s stone panel, Wendell Castle’s rocking chair, Robert Whitley’s hand-carved podium, Japanese ironworks, and fabrics by Martha Burns, Claudia Mills, Ethel Stein, and Ed Rossbach.

On the grounds are new sculptures by John Chamberlain, John Crawford, Marilyn Dintenfass, Judith Kensley McKie, Mark Mennin, Bernar Venet, and Fred Wilson. 

The grounds are open from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. LongHouse will then open for regular hours on Wednesday and Saturday at the same times through June, expanding to Wednesday through Saturday in July and August. Admission is $10 and free for members.