The Watermill Center's In Process series of open studios and rehearsals by its resident artists will resume Friday at 5:30 p.m., with presentations of work by Jamie Diamond, a visual artist, and Yuki Kobayashi and Lucien Shapiro, both interdisciplinary artists.
Ms. Diamond's practice spans performance, photography, and film. Her work has been the focus of exhibitions at Fondazione Prada Trapholt Museum; Museo d'Arte Contemporanea della Sicilia, and MASS MoCA, to name a few.
"For the last 15 years, I have been making art about the intricacies of human connection within the context of contemporary society, exploring themes of intimacy, authenticity, and the blurred boundaries between reality and fiction," she says on her website.
While at the center she will be working on "Skin Hunger," a film that examines a service area that has emerged and exploded in recent years -- the renting of people for nonsexual touch, a.k.a. cuddling. A free screening of the 26-minute film will happen next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. A conversation between Ms. Diamond and Ella, New York City's leading touch practitioner, will follow the film.
Mr. Kobayashi explores the neutrality of gender and questions racial stereotypes. His action-based performances seek to reveal the authenticity of the human condition, working with the unexpected and the spontaneous. He received an M.A. from the Royal College of Art in London in 2016, and initiated a Japan-based performance platform, "Stillive," in 2019.
While in residence he is working on "Queueer (Life of Athletics)," a performance work based on Wing Chun, one of the youngest and most contemporary styles of Kung Fu. Wing Chun was founded by a female master as a technique to counter domestic violence or sexual assault.
Mr. Kobayashi will lead a free Wing Chun basic movement workshop on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Mr. Shapiro is a multifaceted artist whose work spans sculpture, performance, and film. He has exhibited nationally and internationally at museums, festivals, galleries, and art fairs.
Of his work, he has stated that "By using found and collected materials, I explore ways to reshape and relearn what we are originally taught. There is an inherent duality in my work, namely the contrast of urban materials (which are ephemeral, prescribed, industrial) and an aesthetic of something deeply rooted (poetic, hand-crafted, and eternal)."
For his work in progress, "Urning," Mr. Shapiro has been creating sculptures sourced from Watermill's natural surroundings, including a mask, costume, and objects. He will use the sculptures to create a character in an interactive performance that will be accompanied by music and poetry. The goal is to show how we can draw upon our surroundings to create harmony and purpose.
Registration for the free events is required on the center's website.
