The Knife / The Chair / Gary Hill

The Knife
I really enjoyed how Goldstein was able to physically transform the knife without touching it. First Goldstein changes the knife from a solid object into an empty container being filled. The knife takes on the stance of a horizontal thermometer. The red of mercury rising with the temperture change displayed by the background. When the knife is overwhelmed with red light Goldstein gives a few moments for meditation. At this point i sort of disassociate the knife from temperature and just appreciate the reflections of light. I'm not really sure about the blue knife but i think about the juxtapostion of the connotation of blue which is calm and cool, or possibly frozen versus a knife which is used to cut, possibly cause harm but i think it sort of looks like a butter knife (not so harmful). The green seems radioactive. My favorite part of this piece is when the knife takes on the yellow light, because it changes the value, he transforms this silver knife into gold. Goldstein gots the Midas touch. Maybe thats what its about, touch, making the veiwer afraid to touch the knife, or enticing the viewer to want the knife

The Chair
Okay so I liked the fact that this video was extremely slow because it took me damn near the whole 7 mintues to figure out the chair was covered in glue. We use a chair to sit in so obviously i expected the feathers to take their seat in the chair but when they stuck to the back and arm rests i was like wait a minute is this a chair? I think the piece is most successful when feathers go behind and infront of the chair establishing a sense of space. I would have liked to see this piece continue until the entire chair was covered. I was left a little unsatisfied. Goldstein only hinted at the form of the chair instead of completely revealing it.

Gary Hill
Personally I don't find language very interesting, and obviously Gary Hill does. So on some levels I have trouble connecting with his work. What i did find inspiring from Gary Hills work is the techniques he uses to break down language. When Hill was experimenting with running into the wall and then lighting himself on the jump as he said the word, i felt like the word was exaggerated and obscured all at the same time. The impact of the jump and the light framed the word, but also distracted from it. It was a sensory overload in a moment's time. Another interesting technique was his attempt to say the words in reverse. The reversal of the word crippled its meaning would that same thing apply to my work in movement? Finally in Mediations Hill began burying the sound. I was so blown away by the spiral understanding of the words. Its like it starts out clear then spirals through static back to clarity, its a physical incarnation of that idea of a thin line between extremes. Like you go so insane you reach a point of sanity.