simmons kelley dion nauman -anna

The four artists could all be considered conceptual in their approach.

Laurie Simmons is a still photographer, who's subjects range from doll house interiors to rubber dolls falling into pools. She cites the figure and interiors (or enclosed spaces) as the real subject she tends to gravitate to. Light and shadow also play an important part in her compostions. Simmons seems to have an intuitive approach to how she creates saying, "I'm not or never have been a techie, so my camera is like a mysteriour portal for the scene I want to shoot. I've never been completely sure how it works."

Mike Kelley used both video and sculpture to convey his musings about high school and issues of repressed memory and authority. By drawing from pop culture, b-movies, and the like, he reveals something about American culture.

Mark Dion's work usually includes collaboration with other artists, students or people in the community. this is in contrast to simmon's still photography, in which she feels, "I've always loved how quiet it it and how the real action is in your brain." To him, it's a comment on how in the western world, individual achievement is held in high esteem. dion's themes show the connections between the individual and the collective. By using science and history in installations and video, he invites the viewer to discover these connections.

Bruce Nauman depends on the collaboration with the viewer's participation. Nauman's main focus in his video's and installations deal with making art and the role of the artist. He seems to ask the question, "What is art?" by filming mundane occurances like trying to locate a mouse in his studio. In Corridor Installation, the viewer walds towards their own image on the surveillance monitor. Here, he goes beyond the theme of making art by making the viewer aware of their own awareness.