The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center

Vito Acconci: Scenes from This Side of the Camp

January 10–March 29, 2026

A darkened scene features two illuminated rectangular screens side by side against a black background. The left screen shows the shadow of an outstretched hand and forearm, angled upward with fingers splayed. The right screen displays the shadowy silhouette of a figure bent forward, hands clasped low and head down, partially obscured by darkness. Two small desk lamps sit below the screens, casting faint light upward. — Vito Acconci (American, 1940–2017), *Scenes from This Side of the Camp*, 1973/2004 (detail), archival materials, including hand-written and typed notes, scripts, photographs, and an audio recording, Gift of Peggy and David Ross, parents of Lindsay, class of 2000, and Emily, class of 2005, in honor of Molly Nesbit, 2024.48.a

The Hoy Gallery will feature a newly acquired historic work of art by American video and installation artist Vito Acconci. The artist often employed his own body and performance spaces to challenge viewers’ comfort and expectations. Scenes from This Side of the Camp (1973/2004) is a dynamic documentation of a live performance that took place in Rome in 1973. This multifaceted installation blurs the lines between performance, language, and audience perception. The use of handwritten notes in English and Italian, typed instructions, audio, and enigmatic photographs of the performance reveals Acconci’s process of transforming words and movement into both commentary and confrontation. Gathered together, these elements capture Acconci’s exploration of the tension between the personal and the political.

This presentation is generously supported by the Hoene Hoy Photography Fund.

Perspectives from Students

Vassar College

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