Exploring Unconventional Materials with Installation Art Pioneer Sandy Skoglund
Episode 26
Anastasia Parmson, Sandy Skoglund
1/28/20252 min read
Try Descript here: https://get.descript.com/s8kjemvu79fz
In this episode, host Anastasia welcomes legendary American installation artist Sandy Skoglund for a fascinating dialogue about her life's work, creative process, and the challenges she has faced.
Key insights from this episode:
• How some of her childhood experiences formed her perspective as an artist.
• The genesis of her first major installation, “Radioactive Cats” and the evolution of her work from photography to sculpture.
• The intricate process and materials involved in creating her installations, from found objects to experimental ephemeral media like Cheez Doodles and marmalade.
• Challenges with material durability and unexpected issues like insect infestations in food-based art.
• The importance of learning new skills from scratch to produce her projects.
• Insightful anecdotes about storage, transportation, and installation of large-scale art pieces.
Sandy also reflects on the financial and logistical aspects of sustaining a career in the arts. This episode is an inspiring look into the dedication, creativity, and adaptability required in contemporary installation art, from the perspective of a very influential artist.
03:45 Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
08:28 First Installations and Influences
10:04 Radioactive Cats and Alternative Spaces
12:34 Material Choices and Fresh Hybrid
15:45 Challenges with Unusual Materials
48:25 The Saw Incident in Manhattan
49:33 Advice for Installation Artists
50:34 Documenting and Installing Art
51:46 Creating Walking On Eggshells
57:25 Funding and Financial Aspects of Art
01:00:29 Challenges and Rewards
01:09:30 The Loft Scene and Working Spaces
01:17:41 New Work and Upcoming Projects
Sandy Skoglund is based in Jersey City, New Jersey. You can find out more about her work on her website sandyskoglund.com and on her Instagram http://instagram.com/sandyskoglundart/.
She works with Holden Luntz Gallery: https://www.holdenluntz.com/artists/sandy-skoglund/
Also mentioned in this episode:
The Jealous Curator: https://thejealouscurator.substack.com/about | https://www.instagram.com/thejealouscurator/
Art For Your Ear Podcast, interview with Sandy Skoglund: https://thejealouscurator.libsyn.com/sandy-skoglund-believe-you-have-to-do-it
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sandy-skoglund-believe-you-have-to-do-it/id996338562?i=1000547949009
Howdy Doody: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howdy_Doody
George Segal: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/segal-george/
Edward Kienholz: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/kienholz-edward/
Nancy Reddin Kienholz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Reddin_Kienholz
Real Art Ways: https://www.realartways.org/ | http://instagram.com/realartways
Cheez Doodles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez_Doodles
Janet Borden Inc.: https://janetbordeninc.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/janetbordeninc/
Marcel Duchamp: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/duchamp-marcel/
Adobe Photoshop: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html | https://www.instagram.com/adobe/
Dieu Donné: https://www.dieudonne.org/ | http://instagram.com/dieudonnepaper | @DieuDonnePaperMill
McNay Art Museum: https://www.mcnayart.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/mcnayart | @mcnayartmuseum2403
Rule Gallery: https://rulegallery.com/ | https://instagram.com/rulegallery/
The Chinati Foundation: https://chinati.org/ | https://instagram.com/chinatifoundation/
Donald Judd: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/judd-donald/
Rutgers University: https://www.rutgers.edu/ | https://www.instagram.com/rutgersu | @RutgersU
🗣️ Join the conversation in our Linkedin group The Installation Art Society, a space for conversations about installation art and a platform for practitioners to share insights, discuss technical aspects, and exchange behind-the-scenes stories: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14532340/
