Fly Into the Sun

D​escribed as an enchanted forest and performance art extravaganza, the Annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit unites the worlds of art, performance, music, theatre, design, architecture and fashion. All funds raised support The Center’s year-round Artist Residency and Education Programs that provide a unique environment for young and emerging artists to explore and develop new work.

In 2017, the Center’s eight-and-a-half acre grounds showcased nearly 30 site-specific works and performances curated in tribute to Reed’s exceptional life and work by artists including: Deborah Emmanuel, Dana Davenport, Kate Gilmore, Rachel Frank, Christopher Knowles, Jared Madere, Somos Monstros (Raúl de Nieves and Erik Zajaceskowski), Storyboard P, Stephen Shanabrook and Xu Zhen, in addition to video works by Daniel Monroy Cuevas, Regina José Galindo, Damir Očko and VVHY. Under the direction of Robert Wilson the grounds also featured select installations by the Center’s 80 International Summer Program participants including Miles Greenberg, Nile Harris, Marianna Kavallieratos and Laurent le Gall, Vesna Mackovic and Barbara Tran. All performances, installations and video works were curated by Noah Khoshbin and Ivan Cheng.