Stephen, on the one hand, I agree that this is a travesty & a threat to the
existence of a pure & beautiful work of
art<http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS239&q=spiral+jetty&btnG=Google+Search>.
Fucking it up with access roads & pipelines & cranes is akin to slashing an
old master painting with a knife. And yet, it is, on the other hand,
consistent with the conception of Smithson's art that the jetty would be
threatened, even "ruined" in this way. Landscapes are changed by human
activity -- I've seen whole mountainsides in Vietnam terraced into
twelve-foot wide rice fields -- and inevitably Spiral Jetty will be
transformed by human activity over generations. So I don't think we can
rightly consider Smithson's great work of art in the same way we consider an
old master canvas. That is, it cannot be "conserved" in the same way. And
this is not just a matter of practicality, but is inherent in the conception
of the work. The question then becomes, What sort of change ought we to
sanction? It becomes a political question rather than an aesthetic one. I
agree that we should oppose this intervention, but we should understand what
we are doing in our opposition. Smithson has provided us an opportunity to
act in favor of decency & beauty.
jd
On Jan 31, 2008 8:44 PM, Stephen Vincent <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The Spiral Jetty environs is being threatened, by petroleum interests no
> less. Hop and skip through the emails below for details and
> If you want to send a letter of protest to save the beautiful, natural
> Utah environment around the Spiral Jetty from oil drilling, the emails or
> calls of protest go to Jonathan Jemming 801-537-9023 [log in to unmask]
> Please refer to Application # 8853. Every letter makes a big difference,
> they do take a lot of notice and know that publicity may follow. Since the
> Spiral Jetty has global significance, emails from foreign countries would be
> of special value.
>
> . Feb 13 is verdict time.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Stephen Vincent
> http://stephenvincent.net/blog/
> Subject: Fwd: Spiral Jetty Oil Drilling
>
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> We have now won a stay of execution until February 13th. Nancy Holt and
> those of us who feel Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty is a national monument
> that needs to be saved and the environs protected, please call or email
> Jonathon Jemmings, and ask him to deny Application 8853 permission to drill
> the "West Rozel Field Prospect" near the "Spiral Jetty".
>
> I think if we each ask ten more people to write to him, Mr. Jemmings and
> the Utah state officials will eventually be so over-whelmed by the world's
> outrage that we might be able to prevent this disaster. I remember when I
> asked my friends in the art world for help in saving Gordon Matta-Clark's
> Office Baroque in Belgium, it snowballed into a thousand letters from people
> around the world willing to help a fellow artist. Your letters have already
> had an impact. Hopefully, additional letters from your friends will
> influence the Utah vote positively.
>
> With much heartfelt gratitude,
>
>
>
> Jane Crawford
>
> ___
>
> Estate of Gordon Matta-Clark
> 83 Georgetown Road
> Weston, CT 06883
> t: 203 / 544 - 8875
> f: 203 / 544 - 9737
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape <
> http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489> in
> the new year.
>
>
>
>
>
> Subject: Spiral Jetty Oil Drilling
> Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:34:46 -0800
> From: "Nancy Holt" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: "Nancy Holt" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Spiral Jetty Oil Drilling Dear Friends,
>
> Yesterday I received an urgent email from Lynn DeFreitas, Director of
> Friends of the Great Salt Lake, telling me of plans for drilling oil in the
> Salt Lake near Spiral Jetty. See Attachments. The deadline for protest is
> tomorrow, Wednesday, at 5PM. Of course, DIA has been informed and are
> meeting about it today.
>
> I have been told by Lynn that the oil wells will not be above the water,
> but that means some kind of industrial complex of pipes and pumps beneath
> the water and on the shore. The operation would require roads for oil tank
> trucks, cranes, pumps etc. which produce noise and will severely alter the
> wild, natural place.
>
> If you want to send a letter of protest to save the beautiful, natural
> Utah environment around the Spiral Jetty from oil drilling, the emails or
> calls of protest go to Jonathan Jemming 801-537-9023 [log in to unmask]
> Please refer to Application # 8853. Every letter makes a big difference,
> they do take a lot of notice and know that publicity may follow. Since the
> Spiral Jetty has global significance, emails from foreign countries would be
> of special value.
>
> They try to slip these drilling contracts under the radar, that's why we
> found out so late, not through notification, but from a watchdog lawyer at
> the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, the group that alerted me to the land
> leasing for oil and gas near Sun Tunnels last May.
>
> Thank you for your consideration of this serious environmental matter.
>
> Be well,
> Nancy
>
> From Lynn DeFreitas [log in to unmask]:
>
> We now need to direct our energy to Jonathan Jemming, who is the
> > coordinator/advisor for the Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating
> Office. His phone is 801-537-9023
> > and his email is [log in to unmask]
> >
> > The specific application number is # 8853. Although I don't know what
> this
> > short hand means, it was designated as a short time turnaround -
> category 4.
> >
> > Please remember to include the application number in your messages.
> >
> > I have left a phone message on Mr. Jemming's line and will be sending
> an
> > email reiterating my request for the extension. My intiution tells me
> that
> > if Mr. Jemming receives multiple requests, he is more likely to grant
> us an
> > extension.
> >
> > Please do what you can. I know how busy you all are.
>
--
Joseph Duemer
Professor of Humanities
Clarkson University
[sharpsand.net]
|
