Teacher Guide:
David Hammons: Day's End
Teacher Guide
May 10, 2021
The Whitney is delighted to introduce Day’s End (2014–21), the first permanent public artwork by David Hammons (b. 1943). Located directly across from the Museum in Hudson River Park on Gansevoort Peninsula, Day’s End invites viewers to consider the layered histories of the site—from the ecology of the waterfront to the many communities who have occupied the space over time—and the role of artists, such as Gordon Matta-Clark, who have drawn inspiration from this storied New York City neighborhood.
This guide provides a framework for exploring the Day’s End project. We have created a series of activities based upon the themes and questions featured below. We hope that you and your students enjoy Day’s End.
David Hammons, Day’s End, 2014–21. Stainless steel and precast concrete, 52 × 325 × 65 ft. (15.9 × 99 × 20 m) overall. © David Hammons. Photograph by Timothy Schenck
About the Art and Artists
Learn about David Hammons, Gordon Matta-Clark, and the works by the artists both titled Day's End.
Looking at Communities
How can we share community stories? Whose stories are told? Whose stories are not told and why?
Examining the Hudson River and Evolving Coastline
How can we address changes to our environment?
Learn More
Artists Among Us podcast playing on a smartphone, Whitney Museum of American Art. Photograph by Ryan Lowry
Podcast
Artists Among Us
In keeping with the Whitney's mission, collection, and programming, Artists Among Us is our newest mode of storytelling by which we consider the complexities and contradictions that have culminated in the United States we experience today.
Piles for Day's End being delivered by barge. Photograph by SandenWolff
Day's End
Exhibition Videos
Credits
This Teacher Guide was written by María del Carmen González, Whitney educator, with support from Dina Helal, former manager of education resources; Heather Maxson, director of school, youth, and family programs; Kristin Roeder, Whitney educator; and Monica Sekaquaptewa, assistant to school and educator programs.
Generous support for Education Programs is provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, GRoW @ Annenberg, Krystyna Doerfler, The Paul & Karen Levy Family Foundation, Steven Tisch, and Laurie M. Tisch.
Major support is provided by Lise and Michael Evans, Ronnie and Michael Kassan, Barry and Mimi Sternlicht, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Significant support is provided by the Manitou Fund.
Additional support is provided by the Barker Welfare Foundation, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the Whitney's Education Committee.
Free Guided Student Visits for New York City Public and Charter Schools are endowed by The Allen and Kelli Questrom Foundation.
Our Generous Funders
City of New York
The Keith Haring Foundation
Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust
Judy Hart Angelo
Glenstone Foundation
Allison and Warren Kanders
Joan Ganz Cooney and Holly Peterson Foundation
Nancy and Fred Poses
Scott and Kimberly Resnick
Theory and Andrew Rosen
Anonymous
George Economou
K. Thomas Elghanayan and the Corner Foundation
Hauser & Wirth
The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation
The Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation
Sonia and Gaurav Kapadia
Keith and Peggy Anderson Family Foundation
Lawton W. Fitt and James I. McLaren Foundation
Liz and Eric Lefkofsky
Karen and Paul Levy
The Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation
Crystal McCrary and Raymond J. McGuire Family
Adriana and Robert Mnuchin
Mike and Sukey Novogratz
Paul and Erin Pariser
Thomas A. and Georgina T. Russo
Fern and Lenard Tessler
American Express
Dathel and Tommy Coleman
Steven A. Denning and Roberta Bowman Denning
The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation and IAC
Bridgitt and Bruce Evans
The Hanson and Oliver Families
The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
Stephanie and Timothy Ingrassia
The John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation
Dominique Lévy, Brett Gorvy, Lévy Gorvy Gallery
Amanda and Don Mullen
RXR Realty
State of New York
VIA Art Fund
Carol and Michael Weisman
Susan and Benjamin Winter
David Zwirner
Anonymous
Susan and Matthew Blank
The Ford Foundation
William T. Georgis and Richard D. Marshall
Robert Gober
Kranzberg Family Foundation
Lois Plehn and Richard Plehn
Stanley & Joyce Black Family Foundation
Anonymous
Special thanks to the artist, whose generous support made this project possible.