"Robert Smithson's monumental earthwork Spiral Jetty (1970) is located
on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Using black basalt rocks and earth from
the site, the artist created a coil 1500 feet long and 15 feet wide that
stretches out counterclockwise into the translucent red water."[source] Smithson
was obsessed with spirals, and his notebooks were full of all sorts. He
had started out working with piles of dirt and rocks, and combining them
with mirrors and things, moving on to placing mirrors around in nature.
He also experimented with pouring various materials down hillsides, like
asphalt and glue.
Personal Text:
While I am not a fan of Smithson's disregard for the possible
negative impact of his works on their environment, I think that the
Spiral Jetty overcomes that and is an amazing fusion of natural elements
and human construction. While it was interesting at the beginning, I
think as the elements have taken over, it has become much more
beautiful.
