I came into Dia Beacon open minded minded not knowing how, or if, I was gonna be effected by any pieces. I was was so impressed with the space itself and how it opened up and I thought on its own it had a lot of personality. I loved that. Im always curious about how a space on its own is still able to be stand out amongst the art works displayed. On Kawara works was one who impressed me and gave me the same satisfying feeling I got when looking at the other minimalist art. I thought his perspective with time and the intention intention representing work for a specific day was beautiful to me. You look at the images and it holds more than a date.
Sam

    This piece hidden in the floor of PS1 was one of the most unique things I’ve seen in a museum. I actually would expect to find something like this in a student show or a private gallery. The miniature video instillation has a theatrical feel to it. The woman trapped in the floor writhes and reaches towards the viewer as she calls for assistance. The audio included is quiet making it seem that she is deep in the fiery depths of what could be hell. I don’t think if this instillation was larger it would have the same effect with drawing the viewer into her immediate space. Needless to say, this miniature may inspire some of my own tiny art.

-Celeste 

I’ve realized that there are a few different kinds of experiences that I have been having while witnessing art here. The profound emotional experience that we have all been having, and also a experience of a more historical sense. This is how I felt about seeing the Bruce Nauman exhibit at Dia. I don’t really like Nauman’s work but was super stoked just to see it because of the historical context it holds with me. Similar to Nam Jun Paik who I held to real emotional connection to, it is an experience just to be in the presence of work that I have heard sooooooo much about and has been labeled a major moment in art history. I feel like this moment is amplified by the interactive nature of Naumen’s work. “Performance Corridor” allowed me to play with history, which is an experience in itself.

I feel like the incorperation of video is relevant in the moma ps1 space atleast.   Even though it isnt a new medium in itself it is how our generation communicates the most. In a contemporary art space it makes sense to me to incorporate more screens. I feel like Simon Dennys exhibition would’ve be more powerful or come across more fully if he would have used more visuals instead of more text. I feel like even if you dont watch the whole film you can still be impacted just by looking and connecting with what moves in it. It is easier for someone who doesnt know what the piece os about to connect to it in a film way I think instead of feeling lost looking and trying to connect to a painting for instance, which doesn’t move or give you any direction on how to view it.

Sam

I don’t really connect to sculpture on emotional level too much, but I did enjoy Smithson’s exhibit. What I did react to was learning that Smithson had died. I had always been under the impression that what made the difference between a pile of dirt and art was the artist’s intent and hand; that every little pebble had been placed by and carried the signature of the artist. I had proposed during our debrief the question whether pieces like that being installed by another diminished the quality or effect of the piece. Obviously the value is then placed on the concept, but I wonder how others feel. I personally loathe artists like Jeff Koons, who has a massive workshop and hardly even touches his work besides creating the concept. Does the artist need to have a physical relationship the art, like I believe, or is simply having the idea good enough?

-Kam