An Evening Of Food And Performance With ‘ÍCAROS’

On Saturday, November 9, at 6:30 p.m., The Watermill Center presents “ÍCAROS,” an artist-curated performance and shared meal.

The Artists’ Table Dinner is curated by distinguished Watermill alum, Carlos Soto, and includes a cocktails and a local seasonal dinner featuring food and beverage from across the North and South Forks, as well as a performance experience directed by 2019 Watermill Artist-in-Residence, Lynsey Peisinger.

The event is a celebration of and for the year-round community that engages a network of local innovators, creatives, growers, producers and art enthusiasts and reflects Watermill’s long-held tradition of gathering around a meal to connect outside of the practice of art-making. This tradition began with Watermill’s inception in 1992 during its inaugural International Summer Program, where preparing and eating meals together was not only a break from rehearsing new performance works, but also a chance to forge new relationships with the other international artists over the breaking of bread.

“At Watermill, the most important memories are of the meals that separate the day into acts,” says Soto. “Mealtimes are moments for discussion, introductions, sharing and rare moments of frivolity; where we are truly a community before breaking off to our respective activities throughout the day. We laugh together and are uncomfortable together—but feeling uncomfortable amplifies an experience in the same way wine makes the meal all the more delicious and memorable.”

Soto is a director, designer and performer based in New York City. He has presented performances at Columbia University, The Guggenheim Museum, Kampnagel Hamburg, Pace Gallery, Palais de Tokyo, Performa 09; and has been Artist-in-Residence at Willem de Kooning Studio, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York Live Arts and The Watermill Center, among others; and is a frequent collaborator of recording and performance artist Solange and theatre director Robert Wilson.

Peisinger is a performer, choreographer and director. She has presented solo performance works at the C24 Gallery, Foundation Beyeler, SESC Pompeia, Performa Paço at Paço das Artes, Robert Wilson’s 2nd Annual Berlin Benefit, Hyeres Fashion and Photography Festival, and Kunstfest Weimar. Peisinger has worked with Marina Abramovic for performances in London, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Athens, Moscow, Los Angeles and Basel, and directs the public participatory work The Abramovic Method. She is assistant director on Robert Wilson’s “Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter and The Old Woman.”

“ÍCAROS” will be held on Saturday, November 29, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at The Watermill Center, 39 Watermill Towd Road, Water Mill. Tickets start at $250 and funds raised support Watermill’s vision to create and maintain a dialogue between artists-in-residence and the surrounding community all year long. Visit watermillcenter.org to purchase.