Watermill Center Artists-in-Residence To Discuss Their Works During Digital In Process

On Saturday, November 21, Watermill Center Artists-in-Residence Tahir Carl Karmali, Paige Mazurek, Zeinab Shahidi Marnani, Regina Parra and Claire Watson will welcome the community into their creative space where they will speak about their latest creations as part of In Process @ The Watermill Center.

“The event will have each artist briefly discuss their artistic practice, including the project they have been developing during their residency at The Center, which will be followed by a panel discussion between the artists as well as a Q&A with the audience,” Brian O’Mahoney, The Watermill Center Communications Manager, explained. “The event will be moderated by Elka Rifkin, The Watermill Center Director and Kelly Dennis, Public Programs and Residency Coordinator.”

Typically In Process is held in-person at the Water Mill-based interdisciplinary laboratory for the arts and humanities, however this session will be taking place virtually.

Karmali, who was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, is a Brooklyn-based visual artist who began his practice as a painter and sculptor. “During his residency, Tahir Carl Karmali is developing designs and sketches for future sculptures, inspired by the African objects in The Watermill Collection and his own research on migratory tribal art and artifacts,” O’Mahoney noted.

Mazurek and Shahidi Marnani are the first artists to participate in the recently launched National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) and The Watermill Center Mentorship Residency supporting young emerging artists. Mazurek, a YoungArts alumna, is being mentored by Shahidi Marnani, a Watermill alumna.

“YoungArts is proud to have formalized a partnership with The Watermill Center for this mentorship residency; where a Watermill alumna with an established career is able to offer perspective and guidance to a YoungArts alumna emerging into new fields and honing her craft,” said Lauren Snelling, Senior Director of Alumni Programming at National YoungArts Foundation. “Not only do Paige and Zeinab complement one another in the documentary approach to their current works, but their dedication to be together, to work together, and to participate in the development of each of their new creative endeavors at this time is astonishing. I continue to be impressed by the determination of artists to keep creating and telling the stories of this pivotal time in our history, despite extraordinary challenges. Paige and Zeinab are two, perfect examples of this.”

Mazurek, who was raised in Reisterstown, Maryland, currently resides in Boston, MA where she is studying audio storytelling at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, part of the Maine College of Art. Shahidi Marnani was born in Isfahan, Iran. Nowadays, she splits her time between Tehran and New York.

“While onsite at Watermill, Paige Mazurek is developing a 24/7 radio station, which both broadcasts and archives recorded sounds from the ongoing global protests,” O’Mahoney shared. “As part of the YoungArts and The Watermill Center Mentorship Residency, Mazurek is working alongside Watermill Alum, Zeinab Shahidi Marnani, who is also using Mazurek as the subject of her own video project that examines the artistic process of varying artists.”

“I’m so excited to be at Watermill because of the access to a creative community it’s given me during a time that’s otherwise been extremely isolating,” Mazurek relayed. “Being able to have the types of interactions and conversations that really push your work, thinking, and perspective forward is invaluable.”

Watson, who was born in Amarillo, TX, has called Water Mill home since 1996. Her work can be found in several private and public collections, and has been exhibited at venues locally and nationwide. “Local East End artist, Claire Watson is doing extensive research on textiles in The Watermill Collection that she’s interpreting into new drawings and small works,” O’Mahoney said.

Parra address issues like resistance and subversion through painting, video and performance. “Regina Parra is developing a new performance work that explores the female body and the socially imposed limites that encumber it,” he added. “The work is inspired by the play Distant is The Arrival by Brazilian theatre director, Antunes Filho, who passed away last year before the work was produced.”

In Process will begin at 2:00 p.m. There is no fee to “attend.”

For more information, visit www.watermillcenter.org.