Unpublished Research Papers
Bonn, Hilary; Pecoraro, Marianna; and Sneideman, Emily
Abstract
In these documents, NYU Museum Studies Graduate Students Hilary Bonn, Marianna Pecoraro, and Emily Sneideman compiled a series of spreadsheets highlighting the unique symbolism found in Wojnarowicz’ journals, photography, art works, objects/artifacts, and Magic Box. The data is organized by series, subseries, and box. Descriptions are given to objects that are untitled. Each object was analyzed and documented for instances of some of Wojnarowicz’ common themes found in his work. We hope that this database will be a useful tool for future researchers, and we encourage new scholars to add to the database as they see fit.
Henry, John B: "The Installations and Ephemeral Art of David Wojnarowicz" May 2017
Abstract
The primary function of this thesis is to describe and collect documentation of the installation and ephemeral artwork produced by David Wojnarowicz (1954-1992) throughout distinct parts of his artistic career. These intricate installations and thought-provoking ephemeral projects are emblematic of his biography, corpus, and the culture of art in the rapidly changing landscape of New York City in the 1980s, yet we know very little about them. The nature of installation is interdisciplinary and often ephemeral; It is a medium that engages the space it is presented in, the context of the things around it, and the time/duration it is given. This thesis surveys the installation artworks by Wojnarowicz both visually and critically while drawing lines of connection to his work in other media.
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Kramer, Lia: “Material Analysis of Plastic Objects in the Magic Box" April 4, 2017
Abstract
In this study, NYU IFA conservation graduate student Lia Kramer selected plastic objects from the David Wojnarowicz’s Magic Box for material analysis. Identification of the types of plastics comprising these items will inform preventive conservation treatments to preserve the items without separating the contents from the box where possible. Small samples were taken from each component of the 10 objects selected for analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). All samples were successfully identified. Resulting analysis data spectra, identification characteristics, and suggestions for preventive measures are included in the report.
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Slautina, Maria: “David Wojnarowicz: Is ‘Untitled, Face in Dirt' a Co-Authored Work?” December 9, 2015
Abstract
In this graduate student paper, Maria Slautina investigates questions of authorship for Untitled, Face in Dirt. She begins with the problem that Wojnarowicz set up the photograph and directed his friend and colleague photographer Marion Scemama to take the image. The work is at times attributed to Wojnarowicz and at times attributed to Scemana. Slautina uses this question of authorship as a starting point for deeper exploration. In reading through the artist’s journals, she learned that some years prior he referred to a dream in which he had been buried in a way that is reminiscent of the image. She takes the reader through various entanglements, including whether we author our own dreams, and the nature of artistic co-authorships.
(NB: In the interview she gave for this site, Scemama says she is not the author of this work.)
