RJD Gallery, Destroyed in Sag Harbor Fire, Reopens in Bridgehampton
Richard J. Demato’s RJD Fine Arts Gallery is the first business destroyed in the massive December fire that gutted Sag Harbor’s Main Street to reopen, albeit in a new location.
The gallery held a grand re-opening celebration March 25 in a new, two-story location at 2385 Main Street in Bridgehampton, next door to the Candy Kitchen.
The party was also an opening reception for the gallery’s new show, “Urban Revival,” on view through April 16, featuring work by Jules Arthur, Frank Oriti, Alfred Conteh, Gabriel Moreno, Drew Ernst and Philipp Thomas.
The Dec. 16 fire in Sag Harbor destroyed several Main Street businesses, including the iconic art deco Sag Harbor Cinema. The gallery had been in the cinema building, just to the left of the entrance to the theater.
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The gallery, known for its commitment to contemporary art that explores bold social themes, has also become well-known for its work supporting local charities.
In early January, the gallery sent out an email to supporters letting them know, as Mark Twain once said, that the rumors of its death “have been greatly exaggerated.”
“The fire … has left behind a sad void, that unfortunately may take years to be restored. While many works of art were lost, we fortunately had a large storage facility offsite with many additional pieces, and we work with dedicated contemporary artists who are active, driven, and creating new work,” they wrote. “We’re very grateful and aware of how fortunate we all are and thank you all again for your touching support, which has been an incredible source of insight, meaning, love, and energy.”
The gallery has a full season of exhibitions planned, which you can view at rjdgallery.com/ exhibitions.
