"The Music of Regret" Act I (03:42)

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Laurie Simmons began using photography to capture stillness in New York in the '70s. She discusses bringing her characters to life in a movie featuring puppets.

"The Music of Regret" Act II (02:50)

Simmons kept her theatrical work secret during the conceptual art era. She used dummies in a film and decided to cast a human actor as the music and emotions became more complex.

Romantic Element (03:40)

Simmons discusses casting Meryl Streep, and being inspired by the American Songbook to create a love story. Streep reflects on Simmons' songwriting talent.

"The Music of Regret" Act III (03:30)

Simmons discusses filming objects on legs in an audition setting. A pocket watch steals the show, reflecting her interest in starting and stopping time.

Transporting Viewers (02:36)

Lari Pittman thrives on the chaos of American culture and enjoys artistic freedom in Los Angeles. He discusses how his paintings are visually available to everyone.

Gay Artistic Identity (03:30)

Pittman describes his childhood in Colombia; his family supported his decorative creativity. Despite a comfortable life, his work is radicalized by homophobia in American culture.

Retablo Inspiration (02:18)

Pittman describes an urge to "fix up" paintings. He collects Mexican religious art and borrows from its decorative technique.

Life Cycle Metaphor (03:27)

Pittman interprets an abstract painting containing a cactus. He uses landscaping to push back against chaos in nature, and discusses how gardening highlights plant mortality.

From Painting to Sculpture (02:27)

Judy Pfaff describes her love affair with welding and uproots a tree stump for a galley piece.

Light and Dark (03:54)

Pfaff hated school; her Yale art teacher turned her on to sculpture. She is basing a new show on recent personal losses. She discusses using tools to interact with material.

Assembling an Exhibit (02:47)

Pfaff explains a plaster form technique. Witness her assistants put together sculptures in a New York gallery.

Romanticism in Sculpture (01:59)

Pfaff walks through her exhibit. Viewers perceive a sense of sadness and loss; she discusses trying to balance emotion with aesthetics in her work.

"Celebration Park" (02:09)

Pierre Huyghe's work involves creating worlds. His Tate Museum exhibition circulates stories and explores boundaries.

Antarctica in Central Park (04:21)

Huyghe recreated his journey in search of an albino penguin in a conceptual piece in New York. He wants viewers to experience emotion, rather than narration.

"This is Not a Time for Dreaming" (03:56)

Huyghe explains a piece on Le Corbusier's Carpenter Center at Harvard. Using puppets, he created a film echoing Le Corbusier's difficulties with the commission. He talks about using humor as a buffer against criticism.

"Streamside Day" (04:08)

Rather than filming reality or building fiction, Huyghe sets up and documents "realities." In one film, he organized a town celebration and encouraged residents to start an annual tradition. He sees the exhibition as a starting point for his work.

Credits: Romance (02:32)

Credits: Romance