Spiral Jetty: A Brief Narrative Analysis

An artwork that transformed an outdoor location is the Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson which was made in 1970, and is located in Great Salt Lake. The spiral was created in water by salt crystals and rocks that were gathered from the surrounding areas. The Gates as well as the Spiral Jetty had eye-opening impacts on their outdoor locations.

Both the Spiral Jetty and The Gates have transformed their respective outdoor locations. The Gates in Central Park were saffron colored structures with loose fabric of the same color that covered a distance of 23 miles along a walkway. They were man man made structures that were 16 feet tall, which created the feeling of a liminal space as visitors would stand or walk underneath it. Additionally, since The Gates were on display for a short period of time, the public felt a sense of urgency to experience them before they were taken away, Similar to The Gates, the Spiral Jetty was a man made work of art that transformed the view of the Great Salt Lake. Smithson created his spiral in a remote and inaccessible area by abandoned mines and equipment. He created his own version of a jetty, a pier on the water, by transforming it into a spiral of rocks sitting amongst the wilderness. Also, the water in

The Spiral Jetty represents a common design in North American eathwork. The sculpture was constructed form natural elements from the area, whereas The Gates were made of steel frames and fabric. Secondly, the Spiral Jetty was meant to be taken apart slowly over time by the elements and nature. However, The Gates were a temporary installation that was displayed for two weeks before it was physically taken down my man. Even though the two pieces was many differences, they also have some similarities. The two works were man made within nature. The Spiral Jetty may have outlasted The Gates, but nonetheless it was created by a human and was not a natural