Come And Be Inspired

Sound View in Greenport is showcasing, for the third year, its Uncommon Art Artist Residence Program. The program, dedicated to the engaging the community, allows artists across all mediums to live, work, and perform throughout the property. Guests and visitors have the rare opportunity to observe selected creatives and develop an open dialogue. It’s a time to cultivate new ideas and build a broader community.

Owner of Sound View, Erik Warner said, “My inspiration was knowing that nature on the North Fork in the winter is a very powerful place that will allow artists to thrive. Getting artists out of their day-to-day studios, onto our property with a quarter-mile of walkable beach on a cold winter day when the air is clear, where the sea is rhythmically pulsing with a calming energy, is incredible. I have many friends who are artists and my idea was to create a place for them to come and be inspired. The North Fork’s calm quietness during this time of year is very powerful, in fact, transformational on many levels.”

Artists in this year’s program, which kicked off February 10, have been Kara Hoblin, Ryan Bock, Kym Fulmer, and Lindsay Branham. “To have an artist in residence interacting with guests and the local community, sharing new and different perspectives through the lens of how their craft is executed is very exciting for everyone,” Warner explained.

The artists are primarily referred from alum of prior years but come to Sound View from all over. Up next in the program is Paul Loren (March 18 to 22) who will perform in the piano bar on Saturday, March 21, from 7 to 10 PM. Loren considers himself part of the new generation of soul, inspired by early R&B, jazz, and Brill Building pop. He began singing at the age of three and playing piano by four. “The voices I remember most and identify with are Ray Charles, Frankie Valli, Sam Cooke, Sinatra, Aretha, Otis, and Tony Bennett. Growing up in New York, Billy Joel was also a big influence,” Loren said. He will be writing new music and working through his creative process on the piano in front of all guests.

Julian Velard (March 24 to 28) will perform on Friday, March 27, from 7 to 10 PM. He is a regular on “The Howard Stern Show” and NPR and an international talent, opening for Jamie Cullum, Paul Carrack, and Goldfrapp. Beyond music, he’s also shared the stage with known comedians, including Will Ferrell. While at Sound View, he will work on his new music: “Please Don’t Make Me Play ‘Piano Man’.”

Joe Iconis (March 23 to 30) will perform “An Afternoon with Joe Iconis” on Sunday, March 29, from 2 to 3 PM. His work has been nominated for numerous awards and his musical, “Be More Chill,” debuted in March 2019 at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre. Currently in development are “The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson” and “Punk Rock Girl.” During his stay he’ll be working on several projects. “My hope is that I’ll be able to spend equal time working on text-based material as well as music-driven content and I’d like the work itself to dictate what I end up focusing on. I’ll be able to devote myself solely to the creation of new material without the pressures of production or the distractions of the city,” said Iconis.

Sean Spellman (April 8 to 12) will have an open working session in the gathering room on Saturday, April 11, from 1 to 3 PM. Spellman is an avid traveler who documents his experiences through art. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Urban Outfitters, and Freehand Hotels. He plans to fully immerse himself in the environment by “walking on the beach, staring at the Sound, listening to other guest’s conversations,” he said. “I will try to interpret those experiences plainly and with minimal effort onto canvases depicting my surroundings, or abstract communications of the mind.”

Sound View also has weekly seasonal programs on property to immerse guests with local artists and the community. The motel is located at 58775 Route 48 in Greenport. Visit www.soundviewgreenport.com.

nicole@indyeastend.com