What is installation art?

A form of art in which a space is presented as a work of art that can be entered, explored, experienced, and reflected upon.

What materials are used installation art?

The materials used in installation art can be anything the artist wants. An example of the materials used in one installation is the materials used in Thomas Hirshhorn’s installation Jumbo Spoons and Big Cake. He uses common, inexpensive material like cardboard, adhesive tape, aluminum foil, and wood. It’s mostly the work of putting all these things together that is the beauty of the work not what’s actually in it.

Why make installation art?

Installation was made into art because of the changing times. Art can manifest itself in many more ways then the 18^th century philosophers who invented the category every dreamed. Art can be presented in so many different ways and installation is one way for artist to do this.

Which artist/installation did I find most interesting?

I think the installation created by Ann Hamilton to be very interesting. I feel like I get what she is trying to say with all this stuff going on behind the women and the women still doing what she was doing like it was not there. I really understood this picture and think it is very interesting how Hamilton did this.

From the material reviewed, is there an inspiration piece that I feel a connection with?

One of the pieces I felt a connection with was Thomas Hirshhorn’s installation Jumbo Spoons and Big Cake. I love how he put the most random things together but still had a message come across and a reason for doing so. His image is of world problems and that is really important to me.

What theme do I want to explore in my installation?

The theme I was thinking about exploring was Self. I want to create an installation that shows all about me.

What materials will I use?

The materials I will use are sports equipment, school stuff, native American material, clothes, shoes.

Where will this installation be located and why?

My installation will be located in my room because it is where I spend the most time and where I have everything that is mine.

Describe my Installation:

The first thing I put into my installation is a Wayne Gretzky poster. The next thing I put on top of the poster is two hockey sticks crossing each other and a lacrosse stick crossing them in the middle. I place a Chicago Blackhawks puck in my lacrosse stick. Next I folded my Buffalo State Hockey T-shirt and placed it in the top right. The next thing I added was a picture of my dad holding me when I was little. I placed a carving my dad made me from soapstone next to our picture. I placed a dream catcher in the installation next. I placed a trophy I had won playing hockey in my installation as well. I also included two very important key chains to me. The first is a player pass to the National Championships for hockey. The second is my name tag to where I work, Hard Rock Cafe. The very last thing I included were my hockey skates.

Analyzing my Installation:

Wayne Gretzky is my all time favorite hockey player and I have had this poster in my bed room since I can remember. I used my two game sticks that I use for every game I play and I also play lacrosse so I added that to it. I added the Chicago Blackhawks puck because they are one of my favorite teams and won the Stanley Cup this year. I play hockey for Buffalo State and it is a huge part of my life. My dad is the most important person in my life and has always been there for me through everything. The carving is one of my favorite things I own. My dad used to make them when he was younger and my grandma recently gave them all to me. The dream catcher represents my culture, which is Native American. The hockey trophy represents all the years of dedication I have put into hockey and the reward I get from it. The keychains are important to me because going to the National Championships was one of the best times of my life and something I will never forget. The Hard Rock Keychain is important because I spend 90% of my time working there and I also really enjoy it though. My hockey skates are so important to me. I would rather wear them then any other shoe in the world and they have helped me achieve so much in my life.

What are your thoughts on the planning and creation of a site specific installation?

My thought on the planning and creation of this site specific installation is that it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed sharing myself with people. I liked creating something that was all about me and it being somewhere were I could see it and my family and friends could see it as well.