Image Courtesy of Lovis Dengler

The Watermill Study Library

The Watermill Study Library reflects the cultural imprint of humanity. As part of the Center’s collection, the library is unique as a singular space where printed material and artwork are brought together. Comprised of Robert Wilson’s still-growing collection, acquired over his more than 40-year career as a visionary artist and theater director, it houses approximately 16,000 titles, including bound volumes and periodicals.

The geographic and cultural diversity of subjects range from Neolithic to Modern and Contemporary Visual Art, Architecture, Design, and Performance Art; theater, dance, and music; the tribal arts of Africa, the Americas, Asia and the South Pacific; and photography. The library also contains many rare artists’ books and limited editions, as well as major international, non-English books on Western and non-Western art, often difficult to find in the United States. Included with the material about Robert Wilson and his many collaborators, one may also find research books used by Wilson, many containing his notes, as the inspiration for creating new works and the visual vocabulary in productions such as Einstein on the Beach and the CIVIL wars, among others.

The collection is open to all artists, scholars, and visitors. A central computer catalogue being developed will reference connections between works of art, the many printed volumes, and outside links. Watermill’s collection allows one to gain a better understanding of art-making practices from around the world and their histories, the history of pieces in the collection, and experience the varying traditions that inform the new work being created by the Center’s resident artists.

The Watermill Center Study Library will be open this fall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm starting on October 25, 2011. Please park in our lower parking lot and enter through the double doors located on the north side of the building behind the cement wall. Once inside please proceed past the kitchen down the hallway to the library.

If you have questions about the library please contact Kristin Grubb Fabrizio, Humanities Coordinator at kristin.fabrizio@watermillcenter.org or 631.726.4628.

The Watermill Staff is currently looking for volunteer assistance to staff the library, so that we can set public study hours beginning in October. We are looking for curious individuals who are willing to give a few hours one day a week to help retrieve and shelve books. There will be plenty of time to browse as well!

Please contact Kristin Fabrizio, Humanities Coordinator at 631 726-4628 or kristin.fabrizio@watermillcenter.org if you are interested in volunteering and indicate if you would prefer to work Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and if you would prefer 11 am - 2 pm or 2 pm - 5 pm.

Make a donation to The Watermill Center Library: