Field Reports, Part I: Reacting to the act.

I really enjoyed my trip to the museum. And I found all of the works in Act/React very intriguing to experience in person. There were a couple that stood out to me. Scott Snibbe's "Deep Walls" was one of these. Being able to work with this piece was fun above everything else, and I feel that's what the artist wanted. There was a small group of people around this work at the time. I watched the other people for a few moments to see what they would do. Some were hesitant (perhaps not shy, they just didn't quite know the piece worked). But some people started walking in front of the screen immediately. It was interesting to see what people did - some just walked while others made funny motions. Eventually, after seeing what the few people there would try, I myself started going across the screen. I probably went about four or five times. I tried to do something completely different every time. After I went, I stood and watched peoples' reactions to what was on each individual screen. I could overheard one person pointing out one of the squares I created. This is a very odd yet rewarding way to experience. It really couldn't be any more different than just looking at a sculpture or painting (although those have their merits as well). With "Deep Walls" there is a sort of three-way interaction going on. It is between myself, the others, and the work. The work itself prompts myself and others to interact with it and become artists ourselves. And by doing so, myself and others not only become artists of sorts, but we also satisfy the work's expectations and make it complete.

The other piece in Act/React that really made an impression on me was Janet Cardiff's "To Touch". First off, I really liked the concept (as strange as it was). I like how the room with the table was totally isolated from the other installations. That made it more personal and affecting. Even though there were only about three or four people in there when I was, the great surround speakers made the room seem much busier. Although it's interesting to note that, despite the room seeming more full, the sound clips emitted from the table were very intimate and confessional-like. It works on two levels in that way. I liked that fact that this work required the sense of touch to function. Having to make contact with the piece truly defines the idea of interactivity. It also ties in with Duchamp's quote. Without anyone interacting, the work is basically just a table sitting silent in a room (not much to it). But when even one person enters and touches the table, the true nature of the work is realized. Having physical contact with art is something that everyone should experience. It really changes the way one thinks about what art is. When we see a great painting, we are prohibited from touching it. But with "To Touch", we are prohibiting from not touching it.

Overall, the Act/React show was very memorable. I only wish there had been more pieces to interact with. There was one thing I thought I'd mention. I wish we hadn't seen the video in class of how all the pieces worked. This didn't necessarily ruin the experience, but it sort of took some of the discovery and genuineness out of it. It would have been nice to walk into the exhibition and experience everyone without any prior knowledge.

On a completely unrelated note, when I was at the museum I also went through the Sensory Overload exhibition. The "Infinity Chamber" was awesome, as was the "Matrix XV". Those, especially the former, were really something special to experience.