The Watermill Center is pleased to invite the public to an afternoon of family activities hosted by Shane Weeks and the Shinnecock Nation.
The program begins with a tour of The Watermill Center grounds at 1:00 PM, leading the public through the eight acres of landscaping, verdant lawns, outdoor sculpture, and meditation and rooftop gardens that comprise the Watermill Grounds. Additionally, this tour will provide insight into the history a¬nd curation behind the highly personal and eclectic Watermill Collection, which contains over 8,000 pieces representing all continents and eras from the Stone Age to the present. Housed in a residency where performers, thinkers, artists and scholars from around the world come to collaborate, the Collection represents and further stimulates this intercultural exchange. Make a reservation for the tour HERE.
This tour will be followed by a special workshop at 3:00 PM led by Shane Weeks, prominent member of the local Shinnecock Nation and upcoming artist-in-residence at The Center.
The first half of this workshop will explore the craft and culture of native dream catchers. Though the dream catcher has been a widespread Native American commodity for centuries, few know of its origins. In the first half of this workshop, Shane Weeks will shed light on the origins of the dream catcher while leading participants in the art of constructing their own.
The second half of this workshop will introduce Shinnecock dance practices. Members of the Shinnecock Nation will perform traditional and contemporary dances while presenting on the history behind these choreographies and answering questions.
The workshop will be followed by an outdoor reception, concluding the afternoon program.
About Shane Weeks
Shane Weeks is a member of the Shinnecock nation, multidisciplinary artist, and cultural consultant. Born on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton, NY, Weeks has always been instilled with a sense of responsibility to better his tribe, which inspired travels up and down the East Coast to a multitude of American and Canadian reservations in order to study the history and culture of other native peoples. At age sixteen, Weeks founded the Shinnecock Pow Wow stand, a business that incorporates tribal artists’ work, and travelled the tri-state area. At this time, he began the craft of carving. Studying under an artist from the Lumbee tribe in North Carolina, Weeks was taught to carve wood, reindeer antler, whitetail deer antler, and wampum, made from the rare Quohog shell and the first currency of the original colonies. He has proceeded to work for the largest wampum manufacturer in the country, run by the Unkechauge tribe in Mastic, NY, specializing in Wampum beads. In addition to his practice, Weeks has dedicated his life to education, bridging gaps between the local community and the Shinnecock Nation. His involvement is widespread: he has taught craft workshops for years, and worked for the Shinnecock Cultural Center and Museum, using the stand to promote education. A distinguished member of the Shinnecock community and government, Weeks’ mission is to bring knowledge to both the Shinnecock people and neighbors in order to build a better future for the Reservation and the community.
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