ART IS...
In 2016, I was commissioned by SFMOMA's Interpretive Media team to create new content out of their massive archive of artists' interviews. Spanning decades, the interviews had already been mined, but some gems (which the team termed "sticky bits") had slipped through. SFMOMA gave me a list of those "sticky bits", access to the archive, and the creative freedom to utilize the footage to shed light on the artists and their creative practices. Emerging from this creative brief was three series: Art Is..., Artists' CRIBS, and Artists <3.
Art Is... weaves together disparate artists' voices, revealing common threads running through artists’ processes, passions, and perspectives.
Art Is... Revolutionizing the Museum
Artists AA Bronson, Stephanie Syjuco, and Hans Haacke discuss the question of whether the museum is “over” and the complicated relationship between their work and the institution. They describe how they and other artists used their practice to break down barriers and reinvent the museum in the late twentieth century.
Art Is... Collecting
Artists Petah Coyne, Richard Deacon, Fred Wilson and Josh Faught discuss their personal, sometimes eccentric relationship with collecting. From toys to kitchen utensils to human hair, and more, they all reflect on how this sometimes obsessive behavior informs their practice.
Art Is... Going To a Dark Place
Difficult as it is, at some point we all need to confront disturbing themes like fear, trauma, and war. This video features artists Robert Adams, An-My Lê, Richard Misrach, and Naoya Hatakeyama discussing how going to “dark places” acts as a driving force in creating art, and often leads to the discovery of profound beauty and insight.
"How Images of Trauma Help Photographers Cope with Darkness", Creator's Project
Art Is... Capturing a Slice of Life
Three photographers from three different continents explore whether their medium accurately captures “truth” or “reality.” David Goldblatt, Daniela Rossell, and Sophie Calle reflect on this question and what they see when they photograph the world in front of them.
Art Is... Collaboration
Miranda July, Harrell Fletcher, and members of Ant Farm and Futurefarmers discuss their experiences working with fellow artists. They describe the joys and benefits of making art as collectives, partners, and collaborators.
Art Is... Completed by the Viewer
Artists Liz Deschenes, Richard Tuttle, John Baldessari, and Teresita Fernández describe the importance of viewer participation in their work. They reflect on the blurred line between spectator and maker; as Deschenes explains, when a viewer is lost in her work, “That’s where the magic is.”
Art Is... Inspiration
Artists share personal stories about being inspired by other artists. Seeking out these sources of inspiration shaped them as artists, and empowered them throughout their careers. As Tony Oursler reflects, “I built my identity on other artists. I’m a sponge.”