For SAAM

Jenny Holzer, For SAAM, 2007, electronic LED array with white diodes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2008.3, © 2007, Jenny Holzer/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Jenny Holzer, For SAAM, 2007, electronic LED array with white diodes, 33648 in. (853.4121.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2008.3, © 2007, Jenny Holzer/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Artwork Details

Title
For SAAM
Artist
Date
2007
Dimensions
33648 in. (853.4121.9 cm)
Copyright
© 2007, Jenny Holzer/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
electronic LED array with white diodes
Classifications
Object Number
2008.3

Artwork Description

Jenny Holzer created For SAAM especially for this gallery of high ceilings and open space.

Since the 1970s, the artist has created public art, sculptures, and projections that present bold phrases out of context. These snippets of advice, cautions, and desires are stated as if self-evident, despite being subjective and debatable. Holzer's work encourages us to ask, "Who is speaking and in whose interest?" when ideas are pushed on the public but we do not know from where or why.

The texts presented here are written in different voices and come from four series that span decades of Holzer's career. The words appear to swirl and rotate at varying speeds as little lights across the column turn on and off. This constant movement rewards viewers who slow down to piece together what For SAAM has to say.

Works by this artist (2 items)

Jenny Holzer, For SAAM, 2007, electronic LED array with white diodes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2008.3, © 2007, Jenny Holzer/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
For SAAM
Date2007
electronic LED array with white diodes
On view

Related Posts

A picture with the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Conservator of Media Arts.
Conservation07/26/2018
Media Conservator Dan Finn addresses the challenges of conserving Jenny’s Holzer’s sculpture For SAAM, a 29-foot column that projects animated phrases onto the cylinder using LED lights.
Miyah Powe
MTO Intern
Media - 2008.3 - 2008.3_1a.jpg - 67601
Sculpture11/09/2007
There was a huge crane outside the museum and a large truck that contained Holzer's For SAAM, her 2007 conceptual site-specific sculpture. The twenty-eight-foot piece was protected by a long crate.

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Crystal City
Date2009
mixed media installation, including glass, crystal, silver, plastic, and ceramic objects
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David Esterly, Thomas Jefferson's Letter Rack, 2017, limewood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift from the collection of Candace and Michael Humphreys, 2023.55
Thomas Jefferson’s Letter Rack
Date2017
limewood
Not on view