The Watermill Center hosted STAND, a benefit for the 30th Anniversary of The Watermill Center, with new solo exhibitions by Christopher Knowles and Robert Nava on the night of July 30. The STAND benefit, curated by Noah Khoshbin, was created to be a space where artists from different countries and backgrounds could come together to create and experience art; an event where the audience can become the participant. The annual summer benefit united the worlds of art, theater, music, design, and fashion to raise funds in support of the center’s year-round programming.
The night marked the opening of solo exhibitions by returning alumni artist Christopher Knowles and Inga Maren Otto Fellowship resident Robert Nava. The exhibitions presented a comprehensive exhibition of Knowles’ work covering all periods of his artistic career and his varied mediums of choice. Contemporary drawings and animations from Nava were also exhibited, inviting visitors to engage with the works within the artist-in-residence studio space.
The event was filled with different kinds of art mediums, including Adam Parker Smith’s outdoor Sarcophagi sculpture series, on view through 2023. Japanese artist Tsubasa Kato presented his evolving participatory installation/action Pull and Raise. Kato’s participatory actions invited audiences to become participants, highlighting the current need for global action and solidarity. Eight cast bronze sculptures produced by artist Liz Glynn, based on Auguste Rodin’s structures from her project, The Myth of Singularity were also on view.
Additionally, STAND marked the opening of several public presentations, curated by Robert Wilson and Noah Khoshbin, by artists from all over the world; Elettra Bottazzi (Italy), Robson Catalunha (Brazil), Deniz Celebic (Turkey), Yeliz Celebic (Turkey), NiNi Dongnier (China), Laurent Le Gall (France), Liz Glynn (United States), Tsubasa Kato (Japan), Christopher Knowles (United States), Taeyi Lim (Korea), Niccolo Masini (Italy), Hollie Miller (United Kingdom), Robert Nava (United States), Adam Parker Smith (United States), Vilim Poljanec (Croatia), Matthew Shipp (United States), Xu Zhen (China), among others.
