On August 13, 2026, LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton, New York, hosted a reading to celebrate the launch of James Salomon’s new book, DayDreams. The gathering drew artists, longtime supporters, and admirers of the storied 16-acre sculpture garden founded by textile designer and collector Jack Lenor Larsen, whose spirit of imagination runs through every page of the new release.
A Book Born from the Gardens
DayDreams draws its inspiration directly from the grounds of LongHouse and from Larsen himself, the visionary who first imagined the property as a place where art and nature could coexist. The book brings together original artwork, poetry, prose, and personal reflections from 44 artists whose lives and creative work intersect with the gardens. Contributors include Ai Weiwei, Laurie Anderson, Renée Cox, Eric Fischl, Philip Glass, Julian Schnabel, Sean Scully, and Dustin Yellin, among many others. The volume also features an introduction by LongHouse Curator at Large Glenn Adamson, reflections on Larsen written by Dianne Benson, and tributes honoring Buckminster Fuller, Toshiko Takaezu, and Lawrence Weiner.
For Salomon, the idea for the book took shape slowly, almost as a private ritual. While working on the project, he kept a note pinned to his fridge for months that read, “Daydreaming is a romantic notion of impractical thought, and yet sometimes the seed that boosts our creative energy.” That sentiment became something of a guiding principle for the collection, which treats daydreaming not as idle distraction but as a genuine wellspring of artistic thought.
Where Imagination Takes Root
LongHouse itself has always functioned as a kind of incubator for exactly this sort of thinking. Its winding paths, open lawns, and more than 60 outdoor sculptures were designed to slow visitors down and invite a wandering mind, the very state Salomon set out to capture on the page. Larsen built the property not simply as a display space for art but as an environment meant to be lived in and dreamed through, and DayDreams reads as an extension of that original intention, gathering the private imaginative lives of dozens of artists who have, in one way or another, passed through its gates.
Reflections from LongHouse’s Leadership
Executive Director Lara Sweeney spoke about the significance of the project during the evening’s program. “Jack created LongHouse as a place where art, nature, and imagination could exist together, and DayDreams is very much in that tradition,” Sweeney said. “These artists have taken something deeply personal, their own daydreams, and shared it with a community that he built.”
Artists Share Their Words
The evening’s readings brought the book’s contents to life as artists featured in DayDreams took turns reading from their contributions. Michele Oka Doner offered a meditation on memory and imagination, reading, “Do I dream? It happens most nights, and more often than ever with the accretion of years resulting in layer upon layer upon layer of hopes and fears now deposited on my interior scaffolding, the place where dreams are born.” Richard Pasquarelli and Benjamin Keating followed with their own readings.
Dianne Benson, President Emerita of LongHouse, offered her own tribute to both the book and its subject. “This book is the culmination of James Salomon’s very deep dive into the artistry sustaining LongHouse, making it unlike any other garden,” she said. “Having LongHouse in your heart is akin to a kind of dreamscape, for its concept was conjured by a man who lived with one foot in the clouds and the other on a very verdant earth.”
Guests filled the pavilion throughout the evening, mingling over cocktails as each artist took the floor to share their work.
What’s Next at LongHouse
The celebration for DayDreams is only the latest in a full season of programming at LongHouse Reserve. On September 12, the New York Theatre Ballet will present a new work choreographed by Antonia Franceschi. The following day, September 13, multidisciplinary artist Darlene Deloris will lead a talk and creative workshop. Later in the month, on September 19, Sarah Nagourney will lead a conversation on the role of women in the music industry. Further details on all upcoming events are available at longhouse.org
About LongHouse Reserve
LongHouse Reserve is a 16-acre sculpture garden and cultural institution in East Hampton, founded by artist, collector, and textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen. Its gardens, collections, exhibitions, and programs explore the relationship between art, nature, and culture. Open to the public, LongHouse features more than 60 outdoor works, including pieces by Yoko Ono, Toshiko Takaezu, and Willem de Kooning. More information is available at LongHouse.org.
Meta description: LongHouse Reserve celebrated the launch of James Salomon’s DayDreams, a book of art and reflections from 44 artists inspired by its gardens.
