Creative Spirits: An Evening with Witold Rybczynski

Creative Spirits: An Evening with Witold Rybczynski
Thursday, May 15
6 – 8pm
$35 per person, includes one complimentary cocktail. Option to purchase Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island ($66, includes sales tax) available!
Space is limited, registration is required.

Join as we kick off our brand-new Creative Spirits series and step into the captivating architectural world of Planting Fields with renowned author and historian, Witold Rybczynski!

Rybczynsi is the author of twenty-two books, including A Clearing in the Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and North America in the Nineteenth Century. He has written for the Atlantic, New Yorker, New York Review of Books, and the New York Times, and has been architecture critic for Saturday Night, Wigwag, and Slate.

From its indigenous origins to the breathtaking Tudor Revival Main House that stands as its centerpiece today, Rybczynski will shed new light on how visionary architects and clients shaped the 409-acres of this beloved site. Enjoy a complimentary cocktail and special access to explore the first floor of the Main House. This one-night-only event is an exclusive chance to discover, learn, and celebrate the history of one of New York’s most iconic locations.

This program highlights the much-anticipated release of our newest publication, Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island and will include a book signing session with Rybczynski. This new book tells the story of Planting Fields through stunning new photography by David Almeida, historic images, and sketches and plans by the Olmsted Brothers which capture the spirit of this rare survivor of the Country Place Era. A compelling introduction by noted historian Witold Rybczynski explores the designers who shaped it and the families who lived there, and additional essays examine the history of the site and the displacement of indigenous peoples in addition to outlining the future plan for sustainability and resilience in restoring the landscape. See more details on the publication below and save the date for the publication release celebration on Friday, May 16.  

Reserve your spot now and be part of this extraordinary evening! 

Event Schedule
Cocktails and Self-Guided Exploration of the Main House: 6 – 6:30pm
Lecture by Witold Rybczynski: 6:30 – 7:30pm
Book Signing: 7:30 – 8pm

For questions, please contact Kayla Cheshire, Communications and Marketing Manager, at kcheshire@plantingfields.org 

About Witold Rybczynski 
Witold Rybczynski studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal, where he also taught for twenty years. He is Emeritus Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania. Rybczynski has designed and built houses as a registered architect, as well as doing practical experiments in low-cost housing, which took him to Mexico, Central America, Nigeria, Tanzania, India, the Philippines, and China. From 2004 to 2012 he served on the U. S. Commission of Fine Arts. 

About Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island 
This new book tells the story of Planting Fields through stunning new photography by David Almeida, historic images, and sketches and plans by the Olmsted Brothers which capture the spirit of this rare survivor of the Country Place Era. A compelling essay by noted historian Witold Rybczynski explores the designers who shaped it and the families who lived there, and additional essays examine the history of the site and the displacement of indigenous peoples in addition to outlining the future plan for sustainability and resilience in restoring the landscape. Planting Fields: A Place on Long Island is published by Monacelli Press/Phaidon. 

More about Creative Spirits: A Lecture & Libations Series
This presentation-based series invites you to mingle with experts in the industries of art, design and architecture in the great spaces of Planting Fields! As knowledge is shared on these topics, conversation will commence between guests while they sip on signature cocktails. 

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors: 

To learn how you can sponsor this event, please contact Kayla Cheshire, Communications and Marketing Manager, at kcheshire@plantingfields.org