Exclusive Episode #019: Eleanor Antin reveals the process behind her photographic series Helen's Odyssey (2007), in particular the work The Tourists (2007) which recasts the destruction of Troy in the southern California desert.

In June 2008, we find big ideas in places large and small, visiting Jack Fischer's 300-square-foot gallery at 49 Geary and tromping around town to check out Richard Kamler's billboard project.

Jack Fischer's CANDY GARDENS AND SPARKLING SABERS is a kind of coming out for Amanda Smith, who just received her MFA from San Jose State. And what a debut! Smith's ceramic paintings are like nothing we've seen -- intricate, thought provoking, and playful with a subtle, political subtext.

Historian Natalie Zemon Davis, currently an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto and best known for her book The Return of Martin Guerre, has been a pioneer in the field of social history. She reviews her most recent book based on a historical character titled Trickster Travels: A 16th-Century Muslim Between Worlds.

As a young boy Todd Schorr came across the movie King Kong which had a profound effect on him. He has recently been creating paintings with themes of Apes in them. In this video Schorr talks about seeing King Kong and also discusses a work of his titled The Anguish of Carl Akeley.

Projects 85: Dan Perjovschi, WHAT HAPPENED TO US?
The Museum of Modern Art
May 2–August 27, 2007

In his first solo museum show in the United States, contemporary artist Dan Perjovschi creates site-specific wall drawings at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Perjovschi, who lives and works in Bucharest, Romania, makes witty and incisive social and political images in response to current events. His work has been featured in Biennials from Venice to Istanbul to Moscow.

Artist Kerry James Marshall describes the concept behind his SFMOMA murals, "Visible Means of Support".

Esmay Smith is a guard at MoMA.
30 Seconds is an ongoing series created by Thilo Hoffmann.
Hoffmann worked with MoMA members and staff to create short films based on their ideas and experiences in and around the museum.
For more information about the 30 Seconds series, please visit www.thilohoffmann.com.
© 2009 The Museum of Modern Art, New York