You are invited to join us for Open Feast: Potato Potluck at the Second Avenue Fire House Gallery in Bayshore on Monday, June 18 at 6:30pm. Artists Irina Zadov and Abraham Epton have driven coast to coast, sharing dinner and stories along the way as part of their Open Feast project. Ryan Seslow and myself are happy to host the final dinner of the tour at our exhibition CO-ACTIVATE at the Gallery. Please RSVP if you are coming. Bring something potato!
Meyer Segal was the first documented visitor to the TPI Riverhead Temporary Headquarters today.
A lifelong East End resident, Meyer is 88 years old and seemed to know the entire history of Riverhead—as well as nearly everyone who lived there. During his visit, he shared stories about the local community, the potato industry, and his own experiences selling potato sacks many years earlier, not unlike the historic examples displayed on the walls of TPI.
Meyer had plenty of enthusiasm, plenty of opinions, and plenty of advice. Throughout our conversation he repeatedly asked:
“Are ya learnin’ something!?”
The question was both humorous and sincere. I loved it. I think it captures something essential about the spirit of the Think Potato Institute. TPI has only just now opened its doors, but already the project is doing exactly what it was intended to do—bringing people together to share stories, knowledge, memories, and ideas through the humble potato.
Very excited to unveil my THINK POTATO INSTITUTE this weekend in Riverhead, NY during the Harvest Festival. On view, 15 years of collecting potato-themed art and artifacts from around the world, with some of my own potato art also on display. Sat. & Sun. 10/9-10/10, 10am-4pm, with a Reception and Artist Talk Sat. 10/16 from 2-4pm. Located at 127 E. Main St. Riverhead, NY.
Today I am beginning my two-month Artist-in-Residence program at the East End Arts Council in Riverhead, New York.
Over the next several weeks I will be presenting a number of potato-related projects, including Resident Potato, an exhibition in the Carriage House Gallery; Spuds Unplugged, a performance for the Composers Forum; and an Artist Talk and Reception.
Most exciting of all, I will be unveiling The THINK POTATO INSTITUTE on Main Street in three weeks. For two days in October, a vacant storefront in downtown Riverhead will be transformed into a temporary headquarters for TPI.
I am now officially a Resident Potato.
Please stop in if you are in the neighborhood and say hello.
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Jeffrey Allen Price September 17th – November 14th
“RESIDENT POTATO”
Carriage House Exhibition (2nd Floor) October 14th – November 14th
ARTIST TALK AND RECEPTION
October 16th 5:30–8:00 PM
THE THINK POTATO INSTITUTE
Special Installation and Event on Main Street October 9th & 10th 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
SPUDS UNPLUGGED
Composers Forum Performance November 16th 7:30 PM
East End Arts Council, 133 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901
