Art and socialism
nanoor
environment-1b.pdf
A. Y. Jackson, Aurora Borealis, 1921
Sanford Robinson Gifford, A Gorge in the Mountains, 1862
As we can see, artists throughout the ages had always been in awe of nature. But by the middle of the 20th
century, they and others began to realize the detrimental effects that modern society has on the environment. In
the late 60s, an environmentalist movement began to solidify.
Haze from the sun versus haze from pollution…
And so, activism began in earnest with the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970.
A young couple demonstrates how difficult it would
be to kiss if we all had to wear gas masks.
Smithson’s Spiral Jetty is perhaps the best know earth work. Local rocks and gravel are displaced to
make a circular pathway leading nowhere. The walk itself might make one reflect and meditate.
Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty, 1970
Nancy Holt, Sun Tunnels, 1973–76 Great Basin Desert, Utah.
Magritte, 1928
The trek out to find these artworks becomes a memorable journey
in itself, bringing the traveler closer to the land.
If you switch your focus, the large round opening can look like
the earth, and the smaller holes like stars in the night sky.
Video: Christo & Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, 1976
A multi-million-dollar project involving hundreds of volunteers to erect a nylon curtain,
running 24 miles through the California coast, for 2 weeks only.
Late work: Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Trees, 1998
Walter de Maria, Lightning Field, 1977
In this art installation, de Maria arranges a field of metal rods to ‘harness’
lightening. The heavens come down to paint his land-canvas, as it were.
Question #1 – Please research the Hudson River School and
identify a favorite artist and artwork to share with us. Explain
why you value this artist, but also tell us whether indeed you
feel as sense of national identity/pride when you view this
work—as was often intended.
Question #2 - What is your general response to Earth or Land
Art? Do you think it works to raise environmentalist
awareness, or is it more a grand gesture for the artist’s ego?
Question #3 – Please watch the related videos provided in this lecture.
Do you think that Smithson’s and Christo & Jeanne-Claude’s
displacing of earth, natural materials and local people is problematic,
given that they are ‘environmental artists?’
