JONATHAN MEESE’S LARGE-SCALE INSTALLATION  

AT THE WATERMILL CENTER WILL BE  

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC JULY 31—AUGUST 10 

MARLENE DIETRICH IN DR. NO’S LUDOVICO-CLINIC 

(DR. BABY’S ERZLAND) 

Exhibition will follow a preview at the Watermill Summer Benefit July 26 

For the 15th Annual Watermill Summer Benefit and a two-week public exhibition to follow, Jonathan Meese will turn the Watermill Center into an installation entitled Marlene Dietrich in Dr. No’s Ludovico-Clinic (Dr. Baby’s Erzland). The German artist will take over the Watermill spaces created by Robert Wilson and will incorporate Wilson’s eclectic collection, transforming Wilson's pure design into a fantastic, ever-changing assemblage of cult, kitsch and historical relics. 

Following a preview during the Watermill Summer Benefit on July 26, featuring one of Meese’s singular live performances, Marlene Dietrich in Dr. No’s Ludovico-Clinic (Dr. Baby’s Erzland) will be open to the public, free of charge, Thursday through Sunday, July 31 to August 3, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.; Thursday through Saturday, August 7 to August 9, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.; and on August 10, during the Watermill Center Open House, 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. The Watermill Center is located at 39 Watermill Towd Road in Watermill, New York. 

The installation at Watermill will create a vibrant hybrid of two artistic minds that both tend towards the “Gesamtkunstwerk,” or complete and integrated artwork. Wilson will spend time with Meese, explaining to the latter the logic of his place and collection. Meese will then set about deconstructing and re-imagining it all while working at Watermill until the installation’s opening during Watermill’s summer gala on July 26. Meese’s work will be the highlight of the event. Meese will create around 20 new performance videos at Watermill that will be featured in the installation. He will also give a special performance on the benefit night (July 26). The installation will also premiere two new gigantic bronze sculptures that are currently being cast in Germany.