Jill Magid's 'Pooler Room' at Mister Fahrenheit Explores Power and the Press
Jill Magid's exhibit titled 'Pooler Room' is currently showcased at Mister Fahrenheit in New York and will remain open until June 16, 2026. This installation delves into the dynamics between the U.S. public and its government, utilizing the concept of a 'pool' as a metaphor. Set in a repurposed swimming pool, it draws connections to the White House press pool and Bobby Muller's therapeutic pool. Magid's approach includes fragmentation and appropriation, featuring pieces such as 'Stenographer's Note' in neon cursive and 'Editor's Note' from Muller's 1971 speech. The lower section displays 'The Waterline' with blue tiles and a cast metal heart, while a C-SPAN feed relays news, complemented by a program from the former Chief Calligrapher of the White House that discusses the pool's history and themes of press freedom and authority.
Key facts
- Jill Magid's exhibition 'Pooler Room' is at Mister Fahrenheit, 20 West 10th Street, New York, through June 16, 2026.
- The gallery is located in a former swimming pool that belonged to veteran and peace activist Bobby Muller.
- The show uses the word 'pool' to refer to both the White House press pool and the physical pool.
- Magid employs stenographer's notes from a transcript of Bill Clinton's remarks in the Rose Garden and a press pool dispatch.
- Works include 'Stenographer's Note: [At this point, a gust of wind rustled the trees in the Rose Garden.]' in neon cursive.
- 'Editor's Note: [Mr. Muller spoke from a wheelchair, the result of a crippling injury sustained in Vietnam.]' is derived from Muller's 1971 address to the Columbia Student Assembly.
- The lower level features 'The Waterline,' a ring of blue tiles, and a cast metal heart representing Magid's heart.
- A program designed by the White House's former Chief Calligrapher details the history of the White House pool built for Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Entities
Artists
- Jill Magid
- Bobby Muller
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- John F. Kennedy
- Bill Clinton
- Hannah Arendt
Institutions
- Mister Fahrenheit
- White House
- Columbia Student Assembly
- C-SPAN
Locations
- New York
- United States
- White House
- Rose Garden
- 20 West 10th Street, New York