Michael Whiting Opening
Friday evening, museum guests were treated to a fantastic party celebrating the opening of michael whiting: 8-bit modern in the BYU Museum of Art’s Alice D. Day and Claire Day Ord Memorial Sculpture Garden. DJ OK Ikumi mixed his trademark 8-bit–inspired music to the large summer crowd. Visitors played vintage video games; ate red, green, and blue rice crispy treats; and explored the colorful installations in the garden and museum.
Cameras in hand, guests enjoyed the vibrant new sculptures, including pixilated images of familiar shapes such as birds, a pretzel, and a cat’s head. There was even a bright, yellow duck sculpture wading in the fountain. The artist, Michael Whiting, and museum staff entertained guests and answered questions about the exhibition. After giving everyone time to view his sculptures, Whiting took a few minutes to explain his ideas and express his gratitude to the crowd.
“In my visual experience,” related Whiting in his artist statement, “Pac-Man came before Donald Judd, Carl Andre or even Mondrian. For me Broadway Boogie Woogie will always be an homage to Pac-Man. My current work explores the visual connection between minimalism and early video games.”
Michael Whiting addresses the guests (with Mark Magleby, left, Director of the Museum of Art, and Jeff Lambson, Curator of Contemporary Art, looking on).
Relive the evening with photos from the event on the MOA Facebook page.
Listen to Michael Whiting discuss his work with Marcus Smith on Thinking Aloud.
8-bit modern will be on display until March 23rd.
