Columbia Spiral (for Robert Smithson) 2008
I have been learning about a lot about Robert Smithson over the last couple of weeks. He did a great job of explaining his relationship to the environment by creating a very clear vocabulary.
I think that if people are going to be thinking about working with and in nature again, one of the first the first things that would have to happen would be that the vocabulary would have to be updated. We are not same people that we were forty years ago. We have a different environmental and political climate that requires a new language.
However, I did feel that it might be helpful to use Smithson’s Site/ Non-Site as a starting point for developing a new vocabulary.
Overall, I think that artists are more interested in boundaries today. We are interested in one thing becomes another. Rather than being an either/ or it is an both/ and language. It is important that the new work adapts and responds to nature rather than working in opposition to it. We are more willing to accept the transient and opportunistic rather than the large gesture.
( Please forgive the formatting)
Site Non-Site Micro-Site (Field)
1. Open Limits Closed Limits No Limits-Adaptive
2. A series of points An array of matter Integrated with nature
3. Outer Coordinates Inner Coordinates Responsive to natural conditions
4. Subtraction Addition Fractal
5. Indeterminate Certainty Determinate Uncertainty Opportunistic interventions
6. Scattered Information Contained Information Overlay of information
7. Reflection Mirror Transient
8. Edge Center Boundary
9. Some Place (physical) No Place (abstract) One Place (where you are)
10. Many One Numberless
