environmental art
a gallery that explores artistic works intended to enhance or become a part of the urban and natural environment around us
the metropolitan museum of art
environmental art new york city, new york
january 1, 2014 - march 1, 2014
environmental pieces from around the world demonstrated with large photo transfers onto the walls of the gallery along with a small representations of the materials used
SANDWORM Casagrande, Marco. Sandworm (2012). Willow, 150 ft. long by 33 ft wide/tall.
Sandworm is a sculpture piece that implements repetition through its many lines created by the details of the willow tree branches. The form of the object is smooth and impressive considering it was crafted with branches. The sculpture also compliments the land around it, as the colors are all very natural and simple. (label a)
ABSOLUT DAHLSEN
Dahlsen, John. Absolut Dahlsen (2004). Recycled flipflops. 13.8 ft x 4.9 ft.
Dahlsen was commissioned by Absolut Vodka to create this sculpture in Australia, yet this piece signifies much more than can be determined from a simple glance. Dahlsen talks of wanting to create a piece out of something old to represent the beauty that can be found through recycling. The old flip flops turned into a sculpture show not only the value of recycling within the world, but also how beauty can be created out of old, unwanted items. (label g)
clothespin sculpture Uysal, Mehmet Ali. Untitled (2012). Wood and earth. 20 ft. tall.
This piece creates art from simply wood and grass through a unique artistic apporach. The ground was first shaped out of dirt. Once this was solidified, the sculpted oversized wooden clothespin was placed on top of the dirt. Then, grass was grown over the dirt. (label b)
locks of love These are basic padlocks hooked onto a bridge in Paris symbolizing the solid love in a relationship. When the locks are removed from this setting on a bridge, they simply represent a lock used to keep belongings in a certain area. The setting of these locks turn them into environmental art with great meaning. (label f)
No artist. Locks of Love (early 2000). Locks secured to a bridge.
give if you can, take if you have to This piece of art promotes the discussion of giving within society. Humanity often has much to give that is kept for the sake of greediness or materialistic views. This piece uncovers this characteristic of humankind and allows for discussion on how we are able to change this. (label h)
Jacek, Tylicki. Give If You Can, Take If You Have To (2008). Stone, 2 x1.3 ft.
dun carloway
Unknown Artist. Dun Carloway (1300 AD). Stone, 30 ft tall.
RITUAL CUT
Preminger, Tanya. Ritual Cut (2009). Earth & grass, 4.5 x 60 x 75 m.
Tanya Preminger speaks of creating this piece to demonstrate the narrative of relating the earth to the human body. Ritual cuts represent a certain social status in some cultures, but Preminger wanted to show that the earth has the same body all over the planet. She uses soil from Israel and creates a piece that demonstrates this narrative and comparison of a body to the earth. (label f)
reliefs in a cave
Unkown Artist. Untitled (1500-1000 BC), Clay. Unknown dimensions
These reliefs at the time had a religious purpose in showing the creation of new life, as the bull and cow are about to conceive. The prehistoric culture placed great religious value on the birth and creation of life. Now, the reliefs hold less value and are not seen immediately as having religious purposes. They look like simple artistic representations of animals, yet served a much greater purpose over 10,000 years ago. (label d)
WHEATFIELD - A CONFRONTATION Denes, Agnes. Wheatfield - A Confrontation (1982), Wheat. 2 Acres.
The elements of color and form combined with the principles of contrast and mood make this piece extremely interesting. The buildings provide a geometric background, while the wheat is very free form, much like the clouds in the sky. The difference in the objects’ form helps to demonstrate the contrast of mood. The wheat is of a yellow, warm color, while the background is cool and gray/blue, creating a strong contrast in color. It succesfuly combines both the natural and urban world, creating an extremely unique and beautiful piece of environmental art. (label c)
Mt. Rushmore
Borglum, Gutzon. Mt. Rushmore National Memorial (started 1927, finished 1941). Mountain side, 1,278.45 acres.
MAP OF EXHIBIT 1. SANDWORM 2. ABSOLUT DAHLSEN 3. CLOTHESPIN SCULPTURE 4. LOCKS OF LOVE 5. GIVE IF YOU CAN, TAKE IF YOU HAVE TO 6. DUN CARLOWAY 7. RITUAL CUT 8. RELIEFS IN A CAVE 9. WHEATFIELD - A CONFRONTATION 10. MT. RUSHMORE
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