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.

Birds-eye view of large steel sculpture in the shape of a building outline, extending from the Manhattan shoreline into the Hudson River, with a view of the New Jersey skyline in the background.

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

Birds-eye view of large steel sculpture in the shape of a building outline, extending from the Manhattan shoreline into the Hudson River, with a view of the New Jersey skyline in the background.

About the Art and Artists

Learn about David Hammons, Gordon Matta-Clark, and the works by the artists both titled Day's End.

Read More

A view of an empty pier warehouse.

Looking at Art and Artists

What makes something a work of art?

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A building-level view of Gansevoort Street.

Looking at Communities

How can we share community stories? Whose stories are told? Whose stories are not told and why?

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The top of a brick building with lettering that reads "Gansevoort Market Meat Center".

Investigating Neighborhoods

What hidden histories can neighborhoods reveal?

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A boat stationed at the edge of Pier 53.

Examining the Hudson River and Evolving Coastline

How can we address changes to our environment?

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A photo of the Chelsea Market Passage split down the middle to show what it looked like before and after it became part of the High Line.

Then and Now

How can a site-specific artwork enrich our appreciation of a place?

Read More

Learn More

A hand holding a smartphone whose screen displays the Artists Among Us podcast playing.

Artists Among Us podcast playing on a smartphone, Whitney Museum of American Art. Photograph by Ryan Lowry

A hand holding a smartphone whose screen displays the Artists Among Us podcast playing.

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. 

Listen

Photograph of a barge delivering materials on the Hudson River

Piles for Day's End being delivered by barge. Photograph by SandenWolff

Photograph of a barge delivering materials on the Hudson River

Day's End
Exhibition Videos

Watch

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.