SAAM IS OPEN
Friday – SUNDAY
11:00 am – 3:00 PM
All tours to be booked online
For private tours call: 631-353-3299
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UPSTAIRS
DOWNSTAIRS
DIGITAL TAPESTRY
AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE
August 5 – November 30, 2023
Tariku Shiferaw
Making Space: One of These Black Boys
The curator of the exhibition, Storm Ascher, writes: “Southampton African American Museum is the perfect container for Making Space: One of These Black Boys a solo exhibition by the visionary Ethiopian-American artist Tariku Shiferaw—who is exhibiting for the first time at the historic barbershop turned museum. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, raised in Los Angeles, CA, and currently based in New York, Shiferaw’s experience of cultures informs his multifaceted reference points in his work as an abstract artist. Shiferaw invites us on a journey through the realm of mark-making and its profound significance within society and art history.
Making Space: One of These Black Boys challenges us to question the prevailing notion of who possesses the authority to make marks and shape narratives. Shiferaw’s deliberate gestures serve as a powerful counter to the systemic erasure that has long plagued our history. In this series, the artist not only engages with the recorded history of painting but also prompts us to deeply consider the nature of our society and its functioning, in both the physical and metaphysical.”
THE EVERYDAY PEOPLE CORNER
The Everyday People Corner is a monthly series highlighting individual residents of Southampton and the East End, including historical events, personal anecdotes and those kitchen table, barbershop and beauty shop stories. If you know of someone with wonderful memories; if you have a memory, a story about the ’Hood (from Da Hill to Azurest,) or the adventures of growing up on the East End; whether you are 30 generations of the land, migrated here for a new life, or came in the summers…. Let’s praise our everyday lives and everyday people!
OUR MISSION
To promote an understanding and appreciation of African American culture by creating programs that will preserve the past, encourage learning and enhance the life of the community. SAAM will research and collect local history, produce media events, create exhibits and community celebrations.
A BIT OF SAAM HISTORY
The Southampton African American Museum (SAAM) began in 2005 under the name The East End African American Museum and Center for Excellence. Until now, it has functioned as a virtual museum—hosting events and exhibits in public spaces throughout Southampton Village—most notably the Annual Southampton African American Film Festival. Our NEW home for SAAM is located at 245 North Sea Road in Southampton, NY. Affectionally called “The Barbershop," the building was a local gathering place for area African Americans from the 1940s until its closing. In 2010, the Village Historic Preservation Board designated it as the first African American historic landmark in the Village of Southampton, and the process was started to transform it into our permanent space.
TRANSFORMING A LANDMARK
We are so excited to finally have a home for our community and a place to showcase our exhibits and host events. See how 245 North Sea Road has evolved from a gathering place of the past to a destination for the future—step by step!
TREASURE THE PAST: PYRRHUS CONCER
Pyrrhus Concer was born on March 17, 1814 to an enslaved mother, Violet; following her status, he too became the property (whether technically a slave or an indentured servant) of his mother’s owner Captain Nathan Cooper in Southampton. Subsequently, Concer was sold to Mr. Elias Pelletreau II for the sum of $25.00. Five years old at the time of his sale, Concer had no choice regarding his transfer, leaving his mother behind when he was still a young child. Even after slavery ended in 1826, Pyrrhus Concer apparently remained in the Pelletreau household until he was about 26 years old.
ARCHIVES
Explore our past events and exhibits
BLACK ANGELS OVER TUSKEGEE
Written & Directed by Layon Gray
HAMPTONS ARTS NETWORK THAW FEST
Performance by Taylor Burgess
Southampton Historical Museum
Sponsored by SAAM
SAAM 9TH ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL
Performance by artist J. Ivy with Certain Moves
Hosted at the Southampton Cultural Center September 2014
watchAFRICAN AMERICAN ART
From the Private Collection
of Peter Marino
of Peter Marino
"The opening of the Southampton African American Museum will educate our residents and visitors alike about all of our history and heritage and will enrich our community for years to come.”
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SAAM is located at
245 North Sea Road
in Southampton, NY
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