This month, we chatted with Claire Watson (AFP '07 Sculpture). Claire's work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and is currently featured in Off the Block, an exhibition curated by NYFA's Director of Programs, David Terry, at the Southampton Center.

Hometown: Amarillo, TX

Where are you living now? Water Mill, NY

What is your ideal creative activity? Cooking! You start from scratch, engage all your senses, create an ephemeral product and receive instant gratification. Also heavy gardening, although gratification is delayed.

Where is your favorite place to see art? The Met, hands down.

What are you currently working on? On a series called Now What. I'm cutting apart and flattening leather garments into their original pattern shapes, sometimes shrinking them in boiling water to a manageable size, and recombining the pieces into hand-sewn tapestries. Plus, I'm always working on R&D in my notebook.

What is one item you can't live without? Sunblock, apparently. Also, an eraser.

Favorite Restaurant: That little falafel pace, Chez Marianne, in Le Marais, Paris (but in 1990)

Favorite Bar/Lounge: That's a tough one. Sometimes I hang out at the juice bar at Provisions in Sag Harbor.

Favorite Place to Shop: The Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen flea markets

Favorite Quote: "'It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards,' remarked the Queen." -- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass.

CLAIRE WATSON

CLAIRE WATSON