The Parrish Art Museum is hosting a panel discussion on May 24, 2026, featuring artist Sara Siestreem and members of the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, moderated by Associate Curator Scout Hutchinson. The conversation celebrates their collaborative work in the exhibition "Regeneration: Long Island’s History of Ecological Art and Care," which runs through June 14, 2026. The Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, an intergenerational collective of Indigenous women, restore ancestral seaweed harvesting traditions to address water pollution, while Siestreem’s artistic practice incorporates abstract mark making, basket weaving, and Xerox transfers to highlight Indigenous land rights and ecological restoration.
The exhibition matters because it models how contemporary art can engage directly with environmental crises, such as rising sea levels and ocean pollution, through community collaboration and Indigenous knowledge. By showcasing eleven intergenerational artists with ties to Long Island, the museum positions ecological care as a central artistic and social concern, fostering dialogue about restorative practices. This event underscores the growing role of museums in facilitating conversations between artists, activists, and local communities around urgent environmental issues.