Annual Summer Lecture Series Brings Leading Voices to the Watermill Center - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1339390

Annual Summer Lecture Series Brings Leading Voices to the Watermill Center

author on Jul 26, 2016

The Watermill Center’s annual Scaler Summer Lecture Series will commence Tuesday, August 2, with distinguished speakers discussing topics in science, humanities and the arts. Curated by the center’s founder and artistic director, Robert Wilson, the six diverse lecturers were invited to contribute to this year’s theme, “Talks that Inspire and Challenge.”

The first lecturer in the series, notable Syrian clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh, will speak on the subject of “Art in Times of Crisis.” A graduate of the Juilliard School and the first Arab recipient of the premier prize at the Nicolai Rubinstein International Competition in Moscow in 1997, he is internationally recognized for his musical talent and unique sound.

Then on Thursday, August 4, painter and Georgetown University professor BG Kuhn will delve into the relatively unexplored topic of North Korean art in his lecture, “Contemporary North Korean Art: Complexity Within Simplicity.”

On Saturday, August 6, neuroscientist Carl Schoonover will visit with a lecture on “How to Look Inside the Brain.” A postdoctoral fellow in Columbia University’s Axel Laboratory, he will examine the tools used in neuroscience research from early medieval methods to today’s intricate technology.

Award-winning freelance theater director and writer Wesley Enoch will present “Songlines—Aboriginal Traditions in Contemporary Australian Culture” on Thursday, August 11. This lecture will highlight how songs play a pivotal role in Aboriginal culture and practices.

Dr. Cornel West, a prominent figure in the realm of social justice and democracy, will give his speech “Democracy Matters” on Tuesday, August 16. His topics will include police brutality, social activism and the 2016 political climate, with a broader message promoting love and equality.

Lastly, on Thursday, August 18, New York-based conceptual artist Mary Ellen Carroll will discuss how unsuspecting materials, such as infrastructure and law, can be used in art. Her lecture, curiously titled “too, stop the war (First, we will Google Shakespeare, and then you will listen to a folk song)” will be accompanied by a unique performance by singer-songwriter Nina Nastasia.

Each lecture has a 7:30 p.m. start time. The Watermill Center is located at 39 Water Mill Towd Road in Water Mill. Admission to the lectures is free, but reservations are required. To reserve a seat, visit watermillcenter.org.

You May Also Like:

Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’ Ignites Bay Street Theater Stage in November

What happens when books burn — and with them, the freedom to think? They tried ... 17 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

East End Underground Live Concert Series Presents ‘Pure Joy: Paige Patterson’

LTV Studios and the East End Underground Live Concert Series will present “Pure Joy: Paige ... by Staff Writer

National Scrollathon Comes to LongHouse Reserve

Artists Steven and William Ladd will bring their National Scrollathon to LongHouse Reserve on Saturday, ... by Staff Writer

Tom Clavin Presents ‘Running Deep’ at John Jermain Library in Sag Harbor

Bestselling author Tom Clavin will present his latest book, “Running Deep: Bravery, Survival, and the ... 16 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

Met Opera’s ‘La Sonnambula’ Live in HD at Guild Hall October 18

The Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning Live in HD series returns to Guild Hall on Saturday, October 18, with a transmission of Bellini’s “La Sonnambula” from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Soprano Nadine Sierra stars as Amina in this new production by Rolando Villazón, set in the Swiss Alps and designed to delve into the emotional and psychological landscape of Bellini’s poignant opera about love, betrayal, and redemption. Tenor Xabier Anduaga co-stars as Elvino, Amina’s fiancé, alongside soprano Sydney Mancasola as her rival, Lisa, and bass Alexander Vinogradov as Count Rodolfo. Riccardo Frizza conducts. “La Sonnambula” follows Sierra’s acclaimed Live in HD performances ... 15 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

'Artrageous’ Brings Interactive Art and Music Experience to The Suffolk

The Suffolk will present “Artrageous,” a one-of-a-kind interactive art and music experience, on Friday, October ... by Staff Writer

Grenning Gallery’s Autumn Show Captures Stillness Beyond Summer

The Grenning Gallery will host “In Light of Tumbleweeds: Autumn Group Show,” an exhibition featuring ... by Staff Writer

Gerson Leiber’s Bold Decade of Abstraction on View at The Leiber Collection

The Leiber Collection will present “Gerson Leiber: The Poetry of Geometry and Color,” an exhibition ... by Staff Writer

Dracula Reimagined: A Radio Play With Teeth Comes to SAC

This week, Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center opens its first production of the new ... 14 Oct 2025 by Annette Hinkle

‘Like No One,’ the Paintings of Michael McDowell

Ashawagh Hall presents “Like No One,” a solo exhibition featuring paintings by Michael McDowell, an ... by Staff Writer