The Church: ‘Reconnecting w/ Mother Earth: Indigenous Animal Clans’ w/ Jeffrey Pegram, 8.3rd @ 3 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECONNECTING with MOTHER EARTH

———————–

Indigenous Animal Clans,

Creation Stories and Songs

with JEFFREY PEGRAM

—————-

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3^rd, 2025
3 PM

—————————–

TICKETS:

General Ticket: $15

Member Ticket: $10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Church is pleased to welcome back Jeffrey Pegram, Tsalagi Nation (Cherokee) singer and composer and member of the Wolf Clan, for a presentation that explores the animal ‘clans’ and symbols of Native American traditions and narratives. What do our Indigenous neighbors mean when they say they are ‘turtle’ or ‘otter’? Come find out in the intimate and enlightening talk!

——————————

Pegram welcomes you to reconsider our wild four-legged brothers and sisters as family as we dive deep into the meaning of animal clans in Indigenous culture and the symbolic meaning of specific animals. For example, “wolves care about their families,” says Pegram. “They protect the group. Kids are their clan before they even arrive on the planet. They’re born into their families. Whatever their family is, they are naturally as well. If it’s wolf clan..they’re already wolves.” Presenting creation stories and sharing traditional songs about the wolf, the bear, the eagle, and the turtle, Pegram invites audiences to reconnect with Mother Earth through rhythm and sound. Following the discussion, there will be a brief Q&A.

——————————

Those who joined us for the special opening of Eternal Testament earlier this spring will remember Jeffrey as the guiding spirit who led us up to the gallery and into a community drum Circle. A natural leader with a talent for bringing people together and who collaborates easily with peers, award-winning musicians, the community, and people from all walks of life, Pegram reminds us all to reflect, learn, and grow.

——————————

This program is part of the exhibition program of The Ark, our current exhibition, curated by Eric Fischl. Through the exhibition of sculptures of animals, the show aims to seek connections between humanity, animals, and the natural world.

——————————

JEFFREY PEGRAM

Jeffreey Pegram is a Tsalagi Nation (Cherokee) Singer and composer. His music has taken him around the world singing traditional/contemporary Indigenous music for over 40 years. He is also an Indigenous Historian with a Master’s Degree in History. He has given many lectures at colleges and universities on Indigenous historical perspectives.

——————————

The Church was established in 2019 by artists Eric Fischl and April Gornik. Housed in a deconsecrated 19^th-century church, its doors were opened in April 2021. Our mission is to foster creativity and to honor the living history of Sag Harbor as a maker village. The East End represents an exceptional artistic legacy, spanning the practices of indigenous art of several centuries ago, Abstract Expressionists of the mid-20th Century, and the many celebrated writers, makers, musicians, and visual artists of the recent past and current moment. Core programming includes visual art exhibitions, concerts and events, educational programming, workshops, lectures, and an artist’s residency.