Out & About: ArtMarket Hamptons and the Greek Festival

Fairs and festivals of all sorts and flavors abounded on the East End this weekend.

On Thursday night, ArtMarket Hamptons opened for the fourth year on the grounds of the Historical Society in Bridgehampton. A climate-controlled tent, to protect the art from the potential ravages of the heat and humidity as well as potential summer thundershowers was filled with visitors admiring an eclectic selection of Modern and Contemporary Art.

To the accompaniment of a live jazz quartet in the central lobby of the exhibition tent, visitors strolled through the aisles looking at work from 40 different galleries. Several East End establishments exhibited work including Vered, of East Hampton, Neoteric, owned by Scott Bluedorn, and Laura Grenning of the Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor. Work by East End artists was also part of the mix. Margaret Garrett of Shelter Island, Sydney Albertini of Springs and Hector Leonardi of Bridgehampton all showed new work.

On Friday night the Southampton Greek Festival was hopping as hundreds of people flocked to the grounds of the new church to see traditional Greek folk dancing, take a spin on the dance floor, enjoy tarmaslata, pastitsio, and spanakopita, and enjoy the rides.

This was the first year the festival was held since the new Mary of Dormition Church has been open. Visitors were encouraged to take a look inside and admire the traditional icons arrayed across the alter as well as the enormous mosaic entablature across the front entrance to the church. The mosaic was made in Pisa, Italy by Sirio Tonnelli, a 92-year-old artisan. It was then disassembled into blocks and shipped to Southampton.