Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty, 1970

This piece by Smithson is the classic example of an earthwork, or a piece of art that rejects the traditional notions of a studio space and is instead created in the natural environment. More specifically, Spiral Jetty is an example of Smithson’s interest with entropic earthworks, or the tendency of forms in nature to simplify and decay over time. Smithson specifically chose the Great Salt Lake in Utah for the site because it already expressed the increasing decay and disorganization that characterizes entropy through the residue of salt left behind after evaporation. As a site-specific installation, this piece is only able to be known by actually traveling to the piece; however, it is one of Smithson’s most well-documented works and the photographs of its creation function as a surrogate of the piece itself.

 

Posted on October 30 2012, with 623 Notes

  1. ninakrilova reblogged this from tvandme
  2. helenfrankenthaler reblogged this from tvandme
  3. tvandme reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  4. mrmassol reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  5. f101carriemaesmith reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  6. salutlabelle reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  7. brothernorthwind reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  8. nauticalexplorer reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  9. teacupgardener reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  10. linesofgrey reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  11. husky04 reblogged this from iyeshaisriley
  12. lostgodsandlonelybeasts reblogged this from waanderings
  13. waanderings reblogged this from drwg206socialissues
  14. drwg206socialissues reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  15. nestleheath reblogged this from myocardial-revival
  16. materiality33247709 reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  17. rosesappho reblogged this from cavetocanvas
  18. shley1derful-blog reblogged this from boredintellect
  19. cavetocanvas posted this