Watermill Center Series Engages Public Dialogue

The Watermill Center continues its 2018 Summer Lecture Series with “cultural luminaries” on Thursday, August 9, at 7:30 PM. Adams University Professor and Harvard Professor of Economics and Mathematics, Eric Mackin, in conversation with Claude Grunitzky, President of the Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation, will discuss “How to Improve Presidential Elections.” For nearly three decades, the series has featured approximately 80 artists from 30 nations.

“I have always hated the word ‘lecture’ and the idea of a lecture. This is more of a conference talk, a dialogue with the public to ask questions,” said Robert Wilson, The Watermill Center’s founder and artistic director who is leading the series. Wilson founded the center in 1992 to be an artistic haven and feature a year-round Artist-In-Residence Program for the area’s creative youth. The 20,000-square-foot building houses a library, global artifacts and over 10 acres of grounds with sculpture gardens.

This year, the series curated by Wilson alongside Kelly Dennis and Residency Coordinator Brian O’Mahoney. O’Mahoney, a former Summer Program participant and current performance artist, noted, “What is most exciting about our Summer Lecture Series is that it’s not focused on one kind of art, or the arts at all. We bring in speakers from all disciplines and backgrounds to engage the local community and our summer Artists-in-Residence through conversations, exploring a wide range of topics.”

Playwright and director, Robert O’Hara, will be the featured speaker on Tuesday, August 14, with “Get on the Bus: Writing the Opening Scene.” Concluding the series is American composer Nico Muhly with “Roots & Pulses” on August 16.

The Watermill Center is located at 39 Watermill Towd Road in Water Mill. The Summer Lecture Series is open to the public for $15. Advance reservations are required by visiting www.watermillcenter.org or calling 631-726-4628.