New Matrialism 

"The time invested in hand embroidery lends a permanence and gravitas to messages conveyed in this way, and it became a medium of choice for political banners." 

In my idea, this piece exemplifies New Materialist principles by embodying the opposite of mass production.

Through her intricate handcrafted weaving, Albers emphasizes the uniqueness and individuality of each piece, diverging from the standardized and repetitive nature of mass-produced goods. This focus on craftsmanship and the artistic process celebrates the materiality of the work and highlights the value of artisanal skill and creativity over the homogeneity of mass production. 

It also demonstrates a deep engagement with materials and techniques, underscoring the significance of the handmade object in a world dominated by industrialized production.

"Mend Piece" is a participatory artwork created by Yoko Ono. The piece typically consists of broken ceramic fragments or objects that participants are invited to mend using glue or string. The act of mending these broken pieces symbolizes themes of healing, reconciliation, and unity. Participants are encouraged to take part in the process of repair, transforming the broken objects into something whole again. 

The way this piece incorporates the idea of New Materialism is directly on material itself:

In the process of mending, everyday materials like glue and string are given significance and agency as tools for repairing and reassembling the broken pieces. By highlighting the active role of materials in the process of creation and repair, Ono underscores the idea that materials have their own capabilities and potentials beyond passive utility. 

The notion of New Materialism also reminds me of another work we've looked into in class where Hammons set up a street vending-style display in New York City's Cooper Square, selling snowballs of varying sizes amid a blizzard. 

The material snow in this performance art was utilized at a higher level than how old materialism sees value in materials. 

"Snowballs provide a vehicle for strangers to have a conversation or a negotiation in the midst of a context where everybody is 'nobody'."

Through the act of vending snowballs in a blizzard, Hammons challenges conventional distinctions between art objects and commodities, illustrating how materials and objects are entangled within broader social, economic, and cultural contexts.