The Nari Ward Exhibit at the New Museum is a collection of sculptures and art pieces that address inequality, racism, poverty, and rights in America. Ward who a CUNY alum and longtime professor at Hunter College, created these large pieces in this two-floor exhibit that were often composed of found objects that hold dual meanings. From the forgotten trash Ward creates over thirty sculptures, videos, and paintings that span from 1992 to 2018. Through his, work Ward tells the story and shares the pain of the underrepresented and often forgotten. Many of the sculpture pieces in the exhibit also contained a technological aspect usual a sound or light, which brought these pieces to life.

For example, the title of the exhibit; We the People (2011) was displayed in right by the entrance is made up multi-colored shoelaces often used in basketball shoes or sneakers. With the use of shoelaces the words which are the famous introductory words of the US Constitution and signal of democracy, freedom, and rights now also include African Americans and minority population who are often the wears of these type of shoelaces.

One piece I especially like was “Glory” (2004) which was is an oil barrel turned into a tanning bed with fluorescent lights, the inside of the bed contains stars and stripes from the flag. Along with the exhibit is a whistling version of the US National Anthem. The tanning bed holds a dual meaning, (1) it is made of an oil barrel and its and presentation with the flag and the national anthem tie in oil with the essence of America (2) tanning beds which are often used in suburbia, allow for users to create an ideal image and for this image to be replicated to others, in other words the placement of the flag inside the tanning bed, sent the message of manufactured patriotism.

Another piece I liked was called  “Spellbound” (2015) is a piano covered with used keys, and video of footage of floorboard breathing holes that was used by escaped slaves who hid there. The keys represent freedom and release.

When looking for something to write about for the blog, I was nervous that Ward’s exhibit would not be considered experimental, but I think because many of Wards pieces hold dual meanings and use a variety of mediums that can also fall into the experimental category. Overall I really liked the Ward exhibit I am not sure I understood all of the pieces but the ones I did were especially powerful and the ones I didn’t were still interesting. The exhibit is still currently open so hopefully, I can visit us again and maybe go on a guided tour. I also think it’s really cool to see a CUNY alum who is successful in the field of art.