On: Earthworks
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In archaeology the term earthwork refers to a prehistoric ditched enclosure usually used as a fortification, but the term is applied to diverse art forms produced by American and European artists beginning in the late 1960s, in which the finished work becomes an integral part of the environment where it is created. Representing a revolt against the concept of ownership of art, earthworks are generally produced in the form of immense outdoor sculptures, erected by means of engineering procedures and manual labor.
Most earthworks are situated in remote areas and are integrated with the landscape either by moving or intersecting natural elements of the site (geological or architectural), by displacing masses of the terrain, or by creating illusive spaces within the chosen locale. The term was first used in 1967 by Robert Smithson, major maker and theorizer of earthworks. Smithson's major work is Spiral Jetty (1970), a towering formation of salt crystal and rock built on the north shore of the Great Salt Lake, in Utah. Other prominent earthwork artists include Walter De Maria and Michael Heizer.
In archaeology the term earthwork refers to a prehistoric ditched enclosure usually used as a fortification, but the term is applied to diverse art forms produced by American and European artists beginning in the late 1960s, in which the finished work becomes an integral part of the environment where it is created. Representing a revolt against the concept of ownership of art, earthworks are generally produced in the form of immense outdoor sculptures, erected by means of engineering procedures and manual labor.
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Most earthworks are situated in remote areas and are integrated with the landscape either by moving or intersecting natural elements of the site (geological or architectural), by displacing masses of the terrain, or by creating illusive spaces within the chosen locale. The term was first used in 1967 by Robert Smithson, major maker and theorizer of earthworks. Smithson's major work is Spiral Jetty (1970), a towering formation of salt crystal and rock built on the north shore of the Great Salt Lake, in Utah. Other prominent earthwork artists include Walter De Maria and Michael Heizer.
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