Art and Soul: Hamptons Brings Culture To The Hamptons With An Art Walk, Film Screening, Soulful Cuisine And Live Music Performances By Kenny Lattimore, Esnavi
On July 22-24, 2022 the Hamptons experienced a soulful weekend attended by artists, art curators, art collectors, philanthropists, businessmen, media professionals, Hamptonites, and the cultural elite from Long Island, for a festive and fun-filled weekend. ART and SOUL: Hamptons was produced and curated by Yaya Reyes to celebrate art created by influential and emerging Black, Indigenous and Artists of Color living in the Hamptons community and beyond.
DAY 1: The weekend kicked off with a private VIP pre-mixer at The Hamlet Inn in Southampton, NY, where VIPs mixed and mingled, and sipped on bubbly. The opening reception was hosted by the Southampton African American Museum and took place and in collaboration with the Southampton Arts Center — a hub that is helping to strengthen arts and culture for the entire community.
A special film screening of ‘The Inventor” was presented by film director Philip Musey. Light bites were catered by Hiatus Hospitality and The Party Perfectionists (both owned by Caterer Deana Smith of the Shinnecock Indian Nation). The crisp and refreshing rosé was sponsored by Maison Marcel, and the whiskey cocktails were sponsored by Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey.
DAY 2: This weekend event encouraged tourism in the Hamptons that support and connect with artists. The experience included a 3-stop art walk where guests were welcomed to view the artists in residency: John Pinderhughes (SAAM), various artists in the TECHSPRESSIONINSM – Digital & Beyond exhibition (Southampton Arts Center), and Tanya Willock and Temidra Willock-Morsch (Hidden Gem NY – a home decor and lifestyle boutique).
Shortly after the art walk, VIPs met up for brunch. Brown Skin Brunchin’ partnered with BRONZE Magazine for ART and SOUL: Hamptons weekend to host a sold out VIP Brunch at hot spot 75 MAIN.
Some of the Hamptons’ and New York’s socially connected Black and Brown women who are movers and shakers in their professions were in attendance, along with featured SOUL LIVE performers GRAMMY-Nominated R&B/Soul singer-songwriter Kenny Lattimore and TOP 40 R&B/Soul singer-songwriter ESNAVI.
Here is a list of all the gifting sponsors who donated products for the VIP gift bags.
Maison Marcel sparkling rosé
Skrewball Whiskey peanut butter whiskey
Ocean’s Promise sea moss gummies
BYROE facial tomato serums
TRENDZIO love knot satin rope bracelets
Spa Sciences professional beauty tools
SOVÁNY flavored sparkling water
DIVINE chocolate bars
Nature’s Garden healthy trail mix snack packs
SANG Vietnamese coffee
DAX For Naturals curling hair creams and protein hair treatments
Three Commas Colombian organic coffee
Pink Mahoghany perfume vials
LaJeanell organic vegan makeup
Mr. Tortilla salsa and tortilla chips
J.J.L. Candle Co. scented candles
We Are Fluide liquid lipsticks and universal lip balms
Dolce & Lay bath & body oils
EmBeba dry skin rescue balms
Halfpenny Postage greeting cards
Minor Figures dairy-free coffee (oat milk)
Uplift Food pre-biotic snack bars
Kyvan Body Essentials lip balms
VIP guests then attended the Polo Match & Cocktail Party in true Hamptons style, with reserved VIP Cabanas next to supermodel Christie Brinkley. The polo event is presented by Social Life Magazine, and it is quite the event of the summer with over 1,000 guests in attendance, taking place in Bridgehampton, NY.
The highlight of the day was the VIP SOUL LIVE EXPERIENCE hosted by Kevin Thompson – the Entertainer, with live music performances by GRAMMY-Nominated Singer/Songwriter Kenny Lattimore, TOP 40 R&B/Soul Singer/Songwriter ESNAVI, a special poem by museum founder Brenda Simmons (SAAM), and special tunes by DJ International Vybz Empress.
Soul food catered by 1804 Fyete, bridal cocktail bar sponsored by SIGNATURE BRIDE Magazine, and luxurious edible bouquet towers sponsored by WOW Bouquet.
DAY 3: On the final day, Jeremy Dennis hosted a private tour of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio located on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation. Guests had the opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and contributions to the Hamptons by of the Native American Shinnecock Tribe.
The weekend wrapped up with a culinary tasting experience presented by the Black Culinary Expo where various accomplished celebrity chefs served soulful cuisine: Chef Stephan Durand (yellow grits w/etouffee of legumes and shrimp), Chef Marc Anthony Bynum (grilled watermelon salad), Chef Timothy Walker (buffalo chicken, mac & cheese, sweet potato cobbler w/almond crumbler), Chef Fresh (carrot cake cookies, peach cobbler, banana pudding), and Chef Sandy Pierre (spicy shrimp, black wild mushroom rice).
Sommelier Coviello Salinès educated guests about wine and personally served some favorites from his collection: Amour Blue Wine, Peramo Champagne, Italian Lambrusco, Peach Moscato D’Asti, and a 2015 South African Pinotage, while other guests enjoyed crafted cocktails created by The Party Perfectionists, which all took place at the Hamptons Hiatus, a members-only social club located in the Hamlet Green in Hampton Bays.
In conjunction with the culinary expo, an Outdoor Art Exhibition took over the Hamlet Green lawn with featured artwork by Danielle Leggard, Sage Gallon, Tatiana EL-Khouri, Kervin Andre, Odile Jacottarte, and Andrew F. Scott. Road to Artdom hosted a live mural painting which was a fun activity for the community to express their creativity and connect with artists.
You cannot have an event for VIPs without goodies to make them feel welcomed. VIPs received sponsored luxury gift bags filled with swag, curated just for them.
Here is what was inside: Ocean’s Promise sea moss gummies, BYROE facial serum, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, TRENDZIO knot bracelets, Spa Sciences professional beauty tools, Pink Mahoghany perfume vials, DAX For Naturals curling hair cream, and protein hair treatment, We Are Fluide liquid lipstick and universal lip balm, DIVINE chocolate, LaJeanell organic vegan makeup, Dolce & Lay bath & body oil, JJL Candle Co. scented candles, Mr. Tortilla salsa and tortilla chips, Three Commas Colombian organic coffee, EmBeba dry skin rescue balm, Kyvan Body Essentials lip balm, Halfpenny Postage greeting cards, SANG Vietnamese coffee, SOVANY flavored sparkling water, Nature’s Garden trail mix snacks, Minor Figures dairy-free coffee, and Uplift Foods pre-biotic snack bars.
EVENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
SOUTHAMPTON AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM was founded and created by Brenda Simmons to promote an understanding and appreciation of African American culture by creating programs that will preserve the past, encourage learning and enhance the life of the community.
SOUTHAMPTON ARTS CENTER provides a dynamic venue to present the highest quality programming to the entire community through partnerships with a diverse slate of world-class artists, performers, educators and cultural institutions.
MA’S HOUSE & BIPOC ART STUDIO is a project that serves as a communal art space based on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, NY. The family house, built in the 1960s, features a residency program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), art studio, library, along with hosting an array of art and history-based programs for tribe members and the broader local community.
HIATUS HOSPITALITY was created by Caterers Deana and Batya Smith; providing party and event concierge services throughout the Hamptons, the rest of Long Island and the tri-state NY/NJ/CT area. Hamptons Hiatus (members-only social club and venue space), The Experience Exhibition (a series of curated social events), The Party Perfectionists (exemplary and refined event staffing for homes and event spaces in the Hamptons) and Poppin Patties (delicious signature bites for social functions and daily consumption) are encompassed under one creative entity.
ART and SOUL: HAMPTONS is designed to highlight art created by influential and emerging Black, Indigenous and Artists of Color living in the Hamptons and beyond.
