What is it about a story that pulls at the heart strings? That makes you laugh or cry or reflect or sympathize? In a word, humanity. With the incredible rise of AI, the actual human voice is getting lost, in all its imperfections and foibles and personal experiences. Remember the A stands for Artificial, and just like those who consume Cool Whip, wouldn’t you really rather enjoy a luscious whipped cream?
Audiences will have the chance on June 5 to be treated to a variety of personal voices reading short essays at “Confessions,” held at the historically renovated Nathaniel Rogers House of the Bridgehampton Museum. Executive Director Connor Flanagan said, “We at the Bridgehampton Museum are excited to be a host to these amazing writers. Our mission is to be a gathering place for lovers of arts and culture on the East End, and this is another exciting way we get to do that!”
James Lane Post is the media sponsor of the event and guests will be treated to their signature line of RGNY wines at the reception.
As a curator of the event, I am thrilled to bring together this incredible group of writers to share their compelling personal stories. My column “Kiss & Tell” has won numerous awards, including 2025 First Place Best Humor Column Print in the country from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and Best Humor Column awards from the National Association of Press Women and the Press Club of Long Island.
Participating Writers
Marilee Foster is a farmer in Sagaponack. Her family has farmed there since the late 1700s. Since 1995, she has written a weekly article for the Southampton Press, originally called “Sagaponack Scene,” but now named “Eye Level.” She writes about farming, family farming, the weather, birds, other humans, other animals — sometimes microscopic, the ocean, the land. She is the author of one book, published in 2002, “Dirt Under My Nails.”
Brianna L. Hernández is a Chicana artist, curator, educator, and death doula guided by socially engaged practices. In the studio, she creates multimedia installations focused on end-of-life care, grief, and mourning rituals, based on lived experience, cultural research, and collaborations with peers, including death education workshops. Brianna serves as Director of Curation of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton.
Jonathan Shoemaker is a recovering film and TV producer, Springs dad, and the founder of Accabonac Theater Project. He is certified in English Literature, Anusara Yoga, and CPR. His first foray into theater with his original plays in “This Land Is Our Land” debuted to sold-out audiences this winter.
Tracey Toomey McQuade loves to tell stories. Whether writing, sequencing a yoga class, or acting on stage, her favorite thing to do is to connect with others through words, movement, poetry, or music. She can be found playing the harmonium, chanting, dancing, singing, and downward dogging all over the East End. Tracey recently appeared to rave reviews in Accabonac Theater Project’s “This Land is Your Land.”
Eli Zuzovsky graduated from Harvard with a bachelor’s in filmmaking and English, a master’s in French and German, and a practice-led Ph.D. in fine art from Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar. He has been shortlisted for an Israeli Academy Award, and he was selected for the Israeli Forbes “30 Under 30” list, the Venice Biennale College, Berlinale Talents, the Series Mania Writers Campus, and the London Library Emerging Writers Programme. His debut novel, “Mazeltov,” is out from Macmillan (U.S.) and Footnote Press (U.K.). He is the winner of the 2025 Einstein Fellowship for “Outstanding Young Thinkers.”
Tickets are available at bridgehamptonmuseum.org.
