Installation: works of art, plaster dust, printed materials and binoculars


White was presented at the University of Wisconsin - Madison's Art Department Gallery. The gallery and the rest of the department's facilities have long been plagued by problems with ventilation and air quality. The Humanities Building, which houses the department, is seen on campus as representative of the flaws of institutional architecture.

For White, I solicited contributions of white artwork from art students and faculty. The work in the show was offered for sale, and proceeds from sales were donated to the department. The donated monies were to be put towards a planned reconditioning of the gallery.
One half of the space was painted a dark gray. A white shelf hung on the wall. The shelf housed a bid book and three pairs of binoculars. Above it hung three framed documents: a quotation from Peter Watson's history of art sales From Manet to Manhattan and two pages containing a numbered listing of the works in the show and their prices.

The other half of the gallery was painted a bright white. It contained the works offered for sale, and was rendered inaccessible by a cord pulled across the space. On the wall beside each piece was a black number. The floor was dusted with powdered plaster.

Watson's quotation, which dealt with art sales in 19th century France, read, in part: "Certain dealers objected to the public's being allowed into auctions and spilled powder on the salesroom floors, which inflamed throats so much that people coughed up blood."