MUSIC | The Arts Center at Duck Creek, 2018

L to R: John Marcus, violin; Milos Repocky, 
piano; Ani Kalayjian, cello. August 2018. All
photos and video by JT Marlin.

September 20, 2018–The Arts Center at Duck Creek has joined Ashawagh Hall as a fine new place in Springs for music and art.

I have visited twice to hear chamber music in August and jazz earlier in September.

The Arts Center at Duck Creek is on a seven-acre property off Three Mile Harbor Road, on Squaw Road in Springs, in the Town of East Hampton.

Once a farm, now a community center.

The Duck Creek Farm was formerly owned by the former John Little, who lived there in 1948-1989. An abstract expressionist, he painted in his barn and invited artists to stay with him and do likewise. 

In 2005, East Hampton Town purchased the property with Community Preservation Fund money. A group called the John Little Society in 2013 began thinking about how to use the property to encourage the arts.

When I visited, the most visible member of the Society was Ira Barocas, who was solicitously ensuring that people had a place to sit, although those who attend the events are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.
  

Jazz in September 2018.

Other members of the committee are Zach Cohen, chair of the town’s Nature Preserve Committee, architect Pamela Bicket, and Springs resident Loring Bolger, chair of the Springs Citizens Advisory Committee.

Bolger's niece, artist Sydney Albertini, in 2017 selected Duck Creek Farm as an exhibition space, part of a Parrish Art Museum road show. 

The Committee plans to partner with Peconic Historic Preservation, a tax-exempt not-for-profit corporation, to solicit tax-favored funds and they are forming an advisory committee to organize events such as small music and theater performances, and exhibitions of sculpture or art installations. 

Chamber music, August 2018.

The town plans to give Little’s barn a new roof and floor, and will fix its windows. The John Little Society will make other smaller repairs. Someone will also have to renovate Little's house, built in 1795. 

For more information on the Society and the Farm, visit duckcreekfarmarts.blogspot.com or send an email to johnlittlesociety@gmail.com.