The Dan Flavin Art Institute

23 Corwith Avenue, Bridgehampton, New York

The Dan Flavin Art Institute, Bridgehampton, New York. Photo: Bill Jacobson Studio, New York

Overview

Established in 1983 as a permanent installation of Flavin’s work, this renovated firehouse holds a permanent installation of nine works in fluorescent light created by the artist between 1963 and 1981, and a gallery for changing exhibitions. Planned by the artist for the second-floor gallery of the space, the permanent installation traces Flavin’s practice from 1963 -- when he decided to work solely with standard fluorescent fixtures and tubes -- to 1981, just before the presentation was realized. In creating this exhibition, Flavin conceived of the sculptures and the architecture as a single, unified installation. By manipulating the formal, phenomenal, and referential characteristics of light, the installation asks viewers to consider a series of contrasts -- between colors, intensities of light, structure and formlessness, the obvious and the mysterious, and the serious and the humorous.

Originally built as a firehouse in 1908, the building operated as a church from 1924 to the mid-1970s, and was renovated under the direction of the artist to evoke the building’s former uses: a newel post in the entrance hall is painted red in memory of the building’s years as a firehouse, and the original church doors have been moved to the entrance of a small exhibition space on the second floor that contains memorabilia, including a neon cross, collected from and about the church.

Visitor Information

The Dan Flavin Art Institute is located on Corwith Avenue off Main Street in Bridgehampton, New York.

Hours
May–October
Thursday–Sunday, 12–6 pm

November–April
Saturday and Sunday, 12–6 pm

Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day

Admission
Admission is free

Directions
Public Transportation via Long Island Rail Road:
The Dan Flavin Art Institute is easily reachable via Long Island Rail Road: Take the Montauk Line to Bridgehampton, New York (2.5-3 hours travel time from Penn Station). Exit the platform and walk east on Maple Lane one-half block to Corwith Avenue. Walk south on Corwith Avenue 1.5 blocks. The Dan Flavin Art Institute is on the east side of the street just before Main Street. For train schedule information visit www.mta.info.

Driving via New York City:
Take the Midtown tunnel to the LI Expressway (495) east to exit 70. Turn right off the exit ramp onto route 111, which soon ends and connects to east bound Rte. 27 (Montauk Hwy). Stay on 27 until you get to Bridgehampton. Turn left at the intersection of Corwith and Main Street. The Dan Flavin Art institute is on your right not far from the corner.

For more information call 631 537 1476.