SFMOMA Artcasts

This episode features takes on photography’s past, present, and future. First up, we bring you an excerpt from "Is Photography Over?" a symposium hosted by SFMOMA in April 2010. Next, Corey Keller, SFMOMA’s associate curator of Photography, introduces French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson and discusses Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century, the retrospective of his work on view at the museum through January 30, 2011. Then, Sandra Phillips, senior curator of Photography, and Rudolf Frieling, curator of Media Arts, present Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance, and the Camera since 1870, an exhibition that will be on view through April 17, 2011. Finally, we return to "Is Photography Over?" and hear a bit more from the artists, curators, and scholars who spoke at the symposium. This Artcast concludes with a recording of Wright Morris reading prose poetry he paired with his photographs.

This episode features takes on photography’s past, present, and future. First up, we bring you an excerpt from "Is Photography Over?" a symposium hosted by SFMOMA in April 2010. Next, Corey Keller, SFMOMA’s associate curator of Photography, introduces French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson and discusses Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century, the retrospective of his work on view at the museum through January 30, 2011. Then, Sandra Phillips, senior curator of Photography, and Rudolf Frieling, curator of Media Arts, present Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance, and the Camera since 1870, an exhibition that will be on view through April 17, 2011. Finally, we return to "Is Photography Over?" and hear a bit more from the artists, curators, and scholars who spoke at the symposium. This Artcast concludes with a recording of Wright Morris reading prose poetry he paired with his photographs.

Spotlight on the Fisher Collection: Creators Who Forged Their Own Paths. Co-founder of Gap Inc. Donald G. Fisher and his son Bob reflect on this iconic art collection, on view at SFMOMA this summer. First, we look at two of Don’s favorite artists: Alexander Calder and William Kentridge. Critic Glen Helfand offers his perspective on the role major collections can have in shaping the public’s exposure to art. Next up, Chuck Close tells us what he has in common with his friends, several of whom are also well represented in the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection at SFMOMA. Finally, we look in depth at the painter Agnes Martin. Doris Fisher shares a behind-the-scenes story of meeting Martin, while the artist herself describes what it means to be a painter. This episode concludes with a musical Guest Take by SFMOMA staff member Jefre Cantu Ledesma, who composed a piece directly inspired by Martin’s work.

Spotlight on the Fisher Collection: Creators Who Forged Their Own Paths. Co-founder of Gap Inc. Donald G. Fisher and his son Bob reflect on this iconic art collection, on view at SFMOMA this summer. First, we look at two of Don’s favorite artists: Alexander Calder and William Kentridge. Critic Glen Helfand offers his perspective on the role major collections can have in shaping the public’s exposure to art. Next up, Chuck Close tells us what he has in common with his friends, several of whom are also well represented in the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection at SFMOMA. Finally, we look in depth at the painter Agnes Martin. Doris Fisher shares a behind-the-scenes story of meeting Martin, while the artist herself describes what it means to be a painter. This episode concludes with a musical Guest Take by SFMOMA staff member Jefre Cantu Ledesma, who composed a piece directly inspired by Martin’s work.

Spotlight on the Collection: Artists Who Let the World In. Curators Corey Keller and Sarah Roberts recount the exhibitions and outreach efforts SFMOMA organized during World War-II. Artist Allison Smith adds to this story by discussing Arts & Skills Service, her contemporary take on the Red Cross Arts & Skills program, which taught art and craft skills to wounded soldiers as part of their psychological rehabilitation. Next up, we look at two very different artists who bring the street into the galleries: Dorothea Lange and Barry McGee. Lange, a photographer who captured the devastation of daily life during the Depression, tells a story from her own front lines, followed by McGee, a contemporary artist who describes his work as a collection of moments from the street. McGee’s work is contextualized by Chris Brennan, coauthor of Bay Area Graffiti, who discusses bringing street art into the galleries, and by People Under the Stairs, who finish the episode with a track that evokes the spirit of McGee’s work.

Spotlight on the Collection: Artists Who Let the World In. Curators Corey Keller and Sarah Roberts recount the exhibitions and outreach efforts SFMOMA organized during World War-II. Artist Allison Smith adds to this story by discussing Arts & Skills Service, her contemporary take on the Red Cross Arts & Skills program, which taught art and craft skills to wounded soldiers as part of their psychological rehabilitation. Next up, we look at two very different artists who bring the street into the galleries: Dorothea Lange and Barry McGee. Lange, a photographer who captured the devastation of daily life during the Depression, tells a story from her own front lines, followed by McGee, a contemporary artist who describes his work as a collection of moments from the street. McGee’s work is contextualized by Chris Brennan, coauthor of Bay Area Graffiti, who discusses bringing street art into the galleries, and by People Under the Stairs, who finish the episode with a track that evokes the spirit of McGee’s work.

Throughout her long career, sculptor Louise Bourgeois (December 25, 1911 - May 31, 2010) was known for haunting, biomorphic forms that communicated themes from her inner life and family history. A longtime inspiration for feminist artists, in her last years Bourgeois finally enjoyed mainstream recognition. In this clip, the artist discusses her interest in spiders, a recurring theme in her work. © Michael Blackwood Productions, Inc.

Hear curator Gary Garrels in conversation with artist Kara Walker about her 1999 work entitled "No mere words can Adequately reflect the Remorse this Negress feels at having been Cast into such a lowly state by her former Masters and so it is with a Humble heart that she brings about their physical Ruin and earthly Demise." The installation, featuring Walker’s signature cut-paper silhouettes, confronts issues of race and gender. On view at SFMOMA from January 16 - May 23, 2010 as part of the exhibition "Focus on Artists."

Hear curator Gary Garrels in conversation with artist Kara Walker about her 1999 work entitled "No mere words can Adequately reflect the Remorse this Negress feels at having been Cast into such a lowly state by her former Masters and so it is with a Humble heart that she brings about their physical Ruin and earthly Demise." The installation, featuring Walker’s signature cut-paper silhouettes, confronts issues of race and gender. On view at SFMOMA from January 16 - May 23, 2010 as part of the exhibition "Focus on Artists."

SFMOMA Artcasts: March 2010 - "Spotlight on the Collection: Looking Back to Look Forward." Catch up with the curators of The Anniversary Show, Janet Bishop, Corey Keller, and Sarah Roberts, as they share a few stories about SFMOMA's founding director, Grace McCann Morley. Stephanie Pau, SFMOMA's manager of interpretation, introduces the exhibition Dispatches from the Archives and presents a selection of visitor responses to a "question of the day." Cello/vocal duo LOOP!STATION shares a musical take on a work in our collection.

SFMOMA Artcasts: March 2010 - "Spotlight on the Collection: Looking Back to Look Forward." Catch up with the curators of The Anniversary Show, Janet Bishop, Corey Keller, and Sarah Roberts, as they share a few stories about SFMOMA’s founding director, Grace McCann Morley. Stephanie Pau, SFMOMA's manager of interpretation, introduces the exhibition Dispatches from the Archives and presents a selection of visitor responses to a "question of the day." Cello/vocal duo LOOP!STATION shares a musical take on a work in our collection.

Bay Area conceptual artist David Ireland is widely admired for installations and sculptures made with humble materials that he accumulated over time. His best known work of art is his house at 500 Capp Street, a ramshackle Victorian in San Francisco’s Mission district that he spent more than 30 years transforming. The house and its furnishings showcase Ireland’s unique use of materials and wonderfully rich sense of humor, following the basic principle that any object or activity can be art if it is experienced as such.

Andrew Kudless discusses P_Wall, a 45-foot-long wall installation of undulating, bulbous forms. Kudless demonstrates the techniques used to create the work at his design studio, Matsys, and describes the ways its form mirrors the human body.

SFMOMA Artcasts: June 2009 uses the museum's rooftop garden, brand new as of May 2009, as an opportunity to explore what sculpture is — the different ways it can function in space and the different things artists can do to give new meaning to forms and materials. Hear artists and curators discuss the wide variety of sculptures, strategies, movements and periods of time represented in the garden.

SFMOMA Artcasts: June 2009 uses the museum's rooftop garden, brand new as of May 2009, as an opportunity to explore what sculpture is — the different ways it can function in space and the different things artists can do to give new meaning to forms and materials. Hear artists and curators discuss the wide variety of sculptures, strategies, movements and periods of time represented in the garden.