Chewing Color

PRESENTATION OF ART- ANALYSIS WORKSHEET

1. General Description of the Show

"Chewing Color"

A. The artists' name(s): Marilyn Minter

B. How many pieces are in the show: Ten pieces, altogether.

C. Describe the location/context of the exhibition space: Inside the Contemporary Art Center. One large room, and one smaller room connected by a short hallway; with work displayed at random on white walls.

D. Describe your perceptions on the content or idea behind the work: My perception of the meaning of this work dwells on the female and societal idea of glamour and beauty. While most try to capture this glamorous, commercial beauty, Marilyn Minter is using photos, paintings and video work to highlight the opposite of this; the moment when glamour goes wrong. She is focusing in on the flaws of beauty, the dirtiness of it.

2. Give Detailed Descriptions of the Following:

A. The method of presentation of artwork (media of artwork, size of artwork, and how it is presented- frames, mats, pushpins, pedestals, etc.) This exhibit includes one projected video on a plain whit wall, two large scale paintings, one smaller painting, and six photographs. The larger paintings are 96x60 inches, and 76x114 inches, the small painting is 24x24 inches. The photos range in size from 40x30 and 86x60 and the video is projected onto a cinema sized wall. The paintings are enamel on metal and are hung on the wall without frames; they are simply there. The photographs are hung straight on the wall with no framing or matting at all and hung by clips-the photos are characterized as being C-prints.

B. The nature of the exhibition space (size, shape, ceiling height, formal, informal, etc.) The space includes one large room, dimly lit due to the video projection. There are high ceilings (about 30 feet) white walls, and a reflective concrete floor with two concrete pillars and a set of stairs going up. There is a long bench so as to sit and watch the film in this room and there is some soft music playing. It is wide open in here and you can hear echoes of people throughout the building. There is some natural light in the larger room and a doorway to a separate exhibit. There is a short hallway that leads to a smaller room with a shorter ceiling and better lighting. There are overhead spotlights illuminating the photographs on the still white walls, most of which reside in this smaller room. The paintings are all in the larger room and are spotlighted, overead, individually. Presented informally in a formal environment.

C. The type and nature of the lighting in the exhibition space: Lighting in larger room is dim for better viewing of projection, whereas the lighting in the smaller area is much brighter, warm and from overhead spotlights.

D. The relationship of the art pieces to each other (physical and thematic) Physically the photos differ from the paintings and both from the video, however they are all consistent in color choice, they all involve some trace of the female body. Thematically they all relate to each other successfully: they all highlight the imperfect perception of female beauty.

E. Other external factors (noise level, air currents, number of people in the space, etc.) The video has soft, looping music that can be heard throughout the space, as well as echoes of people and footsteps. The air is comfortable and still, and there are only a few people walking in and out at a time.

3. How the Presentation Method Affects the Art (use the back, if necessary)

If you feel that the method used to present the work supports and enhances its meaning to the viewer, clarify the criteria upon which you are basing this opinion.If you feel that the method used to present the work detracts from and weakens its meaning to the viewer, clarify the criteria upon which you are basing this opinion.

In section 2-B, I mentioned that this exhibit, to me, was an informal presentation within a formal environment. I don’t think the presentation necessarily defers the meaning however I do feel that it takes away from the overall experience of the work. From my understanding the work is supposed to be seen as rather dirty and the opposite of stereotypical beauty; I mean the photos are hung by clips! It just seems contradictory to be experiencing it in this clean, open, clear and fresh environment. For example, the film was probably a more influential experience being shown in Times Square, in New York City.