Local artist to share vision at Peconic Landing

An artist whose unique vision has breathed new life into the stories and faces of North Fork residents is set to share her experience at Peconic Landing.

Peconic Landing will host local multimedia artist Andrea Cote as she discusses the evolution of her public work and inspiration for “Collective Portrait,” a project that will help to place the personal narratives she has captured into context, making them part of a collective story, she said.

Cote has explored the body and identity as a subject for over 20 years. Since having a child and setting roots on the East End, she has become increasingly interested in community-based projects that explore the collective identity of a place through the bodies and histories of the faces and voices that create the fabric of North Fork communities.

Cote’s free discussion will take place on Sunday, January 17 at 3 p.m. in the auditorium.

During the multi-media presentation she will discuss recent projects, including “Eyes on Main Street,” a 2013 community project in downtown Riverhead that comprised a public installation, a website, videos, and several public events.

Most recently, she installed “A Port of Views,” a site-specific sculpture and series of videos for the Village of Greenport, which included the eyes and stories of Greenport families who have resided in the village for several generations.

Featured families included residents of Peconic Landing Jo Watkins and Arthur Tasker, whose interviews will be screened at the event.

Many of Cote’s recent projects involve a public installation that acts as a portal to a private experience, she said. Cote has said her aim is to evoke empathy in the viewer, an understanding of the stories and oral histories shared with others.

Cote’s work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally at venues including The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Islip Art Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Rotunda Gallery, Abrons Arts Center, The Print Center, The Moore Gallery, and PanAmerican Art Projects.

For additional information on the project ,visit www.aportofviews.wordpress.com.

Patch photo courtesy of Caterina Verde.