Experience the Hood Museum's collection in new ways while listening to music. Considering the COVID-19 crisis, three Museum Club members collaborated to pair three works of art with songs.
Dartmouth Hall by Hardie Gramatky
Halle Dantas '21: In the opening to "ukiyo" by Idealism you can hear a faint breeze and quiet murmurs as if students were chattering in the background. Paired together, the soft tones of Gramatky's watercolor and "ukiyo's" lo-fi melody produce a sense of nostalgia. The pairing transports listeners back to campus. Perhaps they might listen to this while doing homework outside on a brisk spring day; a day far too cold to be without a jacket, but far too nice to be cooped up in the library. Dartmouth Hall stands in the background reminding us how much we miss the monotony of something as simple as walking to class.
Image: Hardie Gramatky, Dartmouth Hall, 1937, watercolor on heavy wove paper.
All That Communicating and No Talking by Dwayne Wilcox
Brandon Yu '20: Dwayne Wilcox's All That Communicating and No Talking is a caustic take on distance and connection in the Age of the Internet. We have become so comfortable with the virtual, texting, and messaging, that we have lost touch with the physical, even when it might be sitting right beside us. In this delicate and lonely time of quarantine, it is important to not take for granted the special magic of face-to-face communication. Check-in on those around you and don't forget to say hello.
Image: Dwayne Wilcox, All That Communicating and No Talking, 2008, crayon, colored pencil and felt-tipped pen on ledger paper.
Supper by Alex Katz
Hadley Detrick '22: Madness's 1982 hit, "Our House," explores some of the dynamics that are common among modern nuclear families. There are chaotic moments and tender ones: The lines "Father gets up late for work, Mother has to iron his shirt" immediately precedes "Then she sends the kids to school, Sees them off with a small kiss." Likewise, Alex Katz's acrylic painting Supper offers viewers an intimate snapshot of a family's evening meal. The figures are animated and expressive, all sitting comfortably at their dining table.
Although these rituals might appear mundane (e.g. kissing a child or eating supper as a family), they represent some of the precious domestic activities that people can still practice while quarantined. No matter where you may be staying during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's possible to take comfort in the thought that family members and loved ones are cherishing these moments and they will continue to cherish them when the world returns to normal.
Image: Alex Katz, Supper, 1974, acrylic on canvas.
"Look and Listen" is a student playlist project. Think of how your own favorite songs could fit with a work of art and share with us on any social media platform by tagging @HoodMuseum or using the hashtag #HoodMuseum.
Written by Museum Club member Halle Dantas '21, Brandon Yu '20, and Hadley Detrick '22