People are drawn to the East End. To the beaches and the open spaces. To its beauty. An art exhibit at the Center for Conservation pays honor to that beauty and the work the Nature Conservancy has done to protect it.

The Nature Conservancy’s “Nature Inspires,” opened in June and runs through July 2.

“I’ve always been inspired by nature,” artist Bobbie Braun whose work appears in the exhibit said.

Braun’s painting “Wainscott Glory,” was selected as the signature image of the exhibit. Braun said that while she has painted the place for 20 years she wanted to revisit it.

“I’m trying to appreciate the places I know but look at it them from a different point of view,” Braun said. “It was a very big change for me.”

The image is on the invitation cover for The Nature Conservancy’s “Nature Inspires” Beaches & Bays Gala, taking place on June 28, which will honor Braun, The Neuwirth Foundation, and celebrate 20 years of support by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

One of Bobbie Braun’s paintings from the”Nature Inspires” exhibit.


“When I was asked to be an honoree I spent a day thinking about it and agreed because I saw it as a tribute to my father and our family,” Braun said.

Braun’s father had been a longtime supporter of The Nature Conservancy and Braun said she has been impressed with the organization’s ability to adapt to change as the world changes.

The art show is the centerpiece for the Beaches & Bays Gala. In addition to Braun local artists including Jim Ginerich, Terry Elkins and members of The Wednesday Group: Plein Air Painters of the East End including Gene Samuelson, Frank Sofo, Alyce Peifer, Anna Franklin, Pam Vossen, Peter Gumpel, and Debbie Palmer are exhibiting pieces.

Local designer and show curator Silas Marder said work from The Wednesday Group: Plein Air Painters of the East End is unique as the group went to different locations and painted together.

One of Bobbie Braun’s paintings from the”Nature Inspires” exhibit.


“It’s a special way to paint,” Marder said. “You’re in the elements in the outdoors and connected and sharing that experience with a group of painters,”

Thirty percent of the proceeds from the sale of the paintings will benefit the island-wide work of The Nature Conservancy with all the proceeds from the gala will go to The Nature Conservancy.
During the Beaches & Gala a special art exhibit will become viewable as the sunsets. As blackness envelopes the gala five screens will feature films from the Andy Warhol Preserve in Montauk, creating spaces full of light and nature in the darkness.

“Everything was done to recreate the mission of conservancy,” Marder said.

For more information on the Beaches & Bay Gala and the exhibit visit: http://nature.org/beachesandbays

One of Bobbie Braun’s paintings from the”Nature Inspires” exhibit.