Peter Whittenberg Lecture

Peter Whittenberg held an MFA lecture on May 6, 2010 in the Knowledge Center in Room 124.
His works consist of video installations, scultures, and performance pieces. His earlier pieces included works make from stamps and stickers. In 2006 he wanted to make personal life into works of art. He created a spoon that carries a significant meaning, because it reminds him of his wife. He continues this project by using the spoon for the rest of his life. His Brovado Plaques are also continous, because he updates his resume on plaques. The resume represents the professional accomplishment that he made in his career as an artist.

Some other works he mentioned his his lecture were "False Start", everytime he has a bad idea, he acknowleges it and breaks light bulbs and the light bulbs represent bad ideas and "Trace Edition Signature Diary", when he signs his name he documentent it by editioning it. One of his major projects that he mentioned in his lecture is the UNR vs UNLV. It was a challenge for UNR and UNLV BFA candidates and MFA candidates to compete against eachother in a marathon. Whittenberg's preparation for the marathon turned into a video installation performance where he is excercising. The piece is edited with attention to detail and aesthetics in mind. It flashes himself, blurred and jogging in place and shows flashes of him doing different exercises. It was filmed in his studio and subtitles flashed at the corner of the screen such as "Velocity".

Whittenberg's current piece is shown in the Sheppard Gallery in the CFA building. Because he wants to be more involved with the community and the public, he started an interactive performance, or a game called Community Blocks. It is a participatory game that he created. This piece tests how well people can cooperate and rely on eachother to get something accomplish. This project is also philanthropic, because proceeds for playing this game go to the food bank. After playing the game, the exhibit shows off the pieces created by the people who played the game.

From seeing both the exhibit first and then the actual lecture, I finally understand the intentions of Whittenberg's works. I feel like so far he engages the communityeffectively in his work. I also would have liked to have seen his other works in his exhibit that were not shown currently such as the photos of objects on pedestals in public spaces. However, his previous works were more personalized than his current exhibit. Whittenberg is successful as an artist, because he is able to get the public more engaged in his work, and if I were to make far in art, I would want to do the same.