The Victor D'Amico Institute of Art: The D'Amico House and The Art Barge

Mabel and Victor D’Amico were artist/teachers who made practical and philosophical contributions to modern art education that remain relevant to this day. They chose the shore at Lazy Point, Amagansett, as the site for a modernist beach house they designed and built themselves beginning in 1940, filling it over time with ingenious designs, modernist furnishings, and unique artworks inspired by their surroundings. As founding director of Education at the Museum of Modern Art (1937-1969), Victor created and oversaw numerous programs that revolutionized modern museum and art education, guided by his belief "that the arts are a humanizing force and that their major function is to vitalize living". His most enduring achievement is The Art Barge. The remodeled WWII Navy barge beached on the shore across the harbor from their home has, since 1960, inspired, motivated and drawn out the creative potential in generations of individuals. Mabel was an equally progressive art educator at Rye High School (1929-1964) who believed that “art should become for all young people, regardless of their ability, a form of expression which they will use naturally and unselfconsciously throughout their lives”. Her creative experimentation and teaching methods—for instance, the painting tray set-up still used today at The Art Barge underlined and ran parallel to her husband’s. She contributed to his programs and he supported her vision. Ultimately, they both regarded the role of the sensitive artist instructor as crucial in the discovery and development of every individual’s creative expression. Mabel's experimental approach to teaching translated easily into the continual exploration and experimentation evident in her artwork. She supported an integrated educational practice, bridging the gap between craft and art. Her artwork demonstrates this and what she encouraged in her students: exploration of new disciplines, use of unconventional materials, and looking at everyday objects in new ways. The spirit of innovation, experimentation, and exploration is visible at The D’Amico Institute of Art.