| Final days to explore the intersection of video and music. Musical Thinking closes January 28. |
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| Immerse Yourself in Musical Thinking |
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Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies
On View Through January 28 Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th and G Streets NW Don’t miss your chance to explore the powerful resonance between recent video art and popular music in Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies. Called “exuberant” and a “knockout” by Hyperallergic, the exhibition features leading contemporary artists who draw on the vast cultural influence of American music. Whether turning to early spirituals, jazz and mid-century musicals, or movie soundtracks and hip-hop, each artist deeply considers the traditions, methods, and purpose of music in daily life. Musical Thinking celebrates major new acquisitions to SAAM’s media art collection by today's leading contemporary artists and pairs recently added video works by ADÁL, Raven Chacon, Mariam Ghani, Martine Gutierrez, Arthur Jafa, Erin Ellen Kelly, Christine Sun Kim, Liz Magic Laser, Simone Leigh, and Cauleen Smith with immersive installations and compelling photographs, sculptures, and prints. |
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| | Download the Free Exhibition Catalogue In this accompanying digital exhibition catalogue, Saisha Grayson, time-based media curator at SAAM, explores how the featured artists artists employ the strategies of musical creation, including its styles, structures, and lyrics to speak to personal as well as shared aspects of American life.
A closing essay connects this current generation of video artists to a century of musically informed moving-image artwork, illustrated through key works from SAAM’s historically expansive time-based media collection. In addition to illustrating exhibition artwork, the screen-reader-accessible digital publication links to select media excerpts and current artist biographies. |
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The Smithsonian American Art Museum is able to create and share experiences like these thanks to funding from generous supporters like you. Thank you for ensuring that American art is available to all. Donate to support SAAM. |
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Exhibition credit:Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Generous support has been provided by Michael Abrams and Sandra Stewart, Aida Alvarez, Candy and Michael Barasch, Carolyn and Mo Cunniffe, Roger S. Firestone Foundation, Ed and Kathy Fries, Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, Pamela and David Hornik, Maureen and Gene Kim, Nion McEvoy Publications Endowment, Victoria McManus, V. Joy Simmons, MD, Smithsonian Accessibility Innovation Fund, Lucille and Richard Spagnuolo, Helen and Peter Warwick,and the SJ Weiler Fund.
This exhibition received federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and the Asian Pacific American Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.
Image credits: Installation photography by Albert Ting
Cauleen Smith, Sojourner, 2018, digital video, color, sound, 22:41 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the SJ Weiler Fund, 2020.54.1, © 2020, Cauleen Smith |
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