Preservation L.I: Country House Benefit, 6.14th | ‘Preservation As Creative Act’, 2.23rd, Sag Harbor …

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Dear Friends of Preservation Long Island,

With February winding down, I’m pleased to write with a few exciting updates and announcements.

Please Save the Date of June 14, 2025 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM for our Annual Country House Benefit at the home of Alfredo Paredes and Brad Goldfarb in Locust Valley. Their home, COCUYO, was originally built by Harrie T. Lindeberg in 1929 and thoughtfully retains the home’s original architectural character and many intricate details, including fresco painted walls, original ceramic floor tiles, and cast iron dragon lanterns. We are very grateful to our Benefit Co-Chairs Allison Aston, Carolina de Neufville, and Asia Baker Stokes. Tickets will be available online soon. This event is not to be missed!

New Acquisition: Portrait of Ephraim Byram
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We are delighted to announce the recent acquisition of an exceptional signed and dated portrait of Ephraim Niles Byram painted in 1834 by the well-known Sag Harbor artist, Orlando Hand Bears (1811–1851). Ephraim was a prominent figure in the history of Sag Harbor and greater Long Island. He was a true Renaissance man. Not only did he make the celestial globe he is leaning against, he was also an astronomer, clockmaker, bookbinder, horticulturalist, and woodworker.

Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors, Preservation Long Island was able to acquire the portrait last month at Christie’s Auction of Important Americana. We are thrilled to add this important piece of Long Island history to our collection, and we look forward to sharing its many stories in the years to come. Click on the image below to learn more about the painting.

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Preservation Awards Celebration

It was a pleasure seeing many of you at our 2024 Preservation Awards ceremony and reception last month at our headquarters gallery. Click HERE for highlights and more photos from the evening.

Images clockwise from left to right: Jeremy Dennis, April Gornik, Lee Skolnick, Eric Fischl; Caroline Zaleski, Ed Dugger, Michelle Gokey; Nancy Achenbach, PLI Executive Director Jackie Powers, Zach Studenroth, Glenn Heidtmann, Anthony Martignetti, Tara Cubie. Event photography by Len Marks Photography.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of our 2024 awardees and extend a special thank you to the sponsors and donors for their generous support of this event.

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Preservation as a Creative Act

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We invite you to join us and the Sag Harbor Historical Museum to explore the vision and dedication behind historic preservation in a discussion at The Church in Sag Harbor. Experts in the field will explore the art of preserving our built heritage.

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Date & Time: Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 2pm
Location: The Church, Sag Harbor
Tickets: $15 / $10 for members of The Church. Click HERE to register.

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Decorative Arts Trust Curatorial Internship Grant

Preservation Long Island is honored to have been selected as the host organization for the Decorative Arts Trust’s 2025–27 Curatorial Internship Grant. This fellowship aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering innovative scholarship and cultivating the next generation of museum professionals. As the recipient of this year’s award, we are excited to welcome the Peggy N. Gerry Curatorial Fellow to our team in 2025. Click the image below to learn more about this opportunity and how to apply. (Read the Antiques and the Arts Weekly feature shared in the next section for more insights about the position).

Preservation Long Island in the News

In case you missed it – here is a sampling of recent coverage of our work and news that appeared in local and national news media (click the logos to read the articles). Enjoy!

Unearthing History Across Long Island: Andrew Tharler, Education and Engagement Director, and Tara Cubie, Preservation Director, contributed to Newsdays’ Black History Month feature exploring the intersection of archaeology and historic preservation.

Decorative Arts Trust Curatorial Internship Grant: Q&A with Lauren Brincat our Chief Curator & Director of Collections about the award and the Peggy N. Gerry Curatorial Fellow position currently available with us.

Art of Edward Lange Book Feature in Winter 2024-25 Issue: Article by Lauren Brincat, Preservation Long Island’s Chief Curator and Director of Collections, and former curatorial fellow Peter Fedoryk, that explores the life, work, and career of Edward Lange—one of Long Island’s most prolific late nineteenth-century artists. Lange is the subject of our latest hardcover publication.