What Have We Learned?

We spent a little time visiting the Mormon Cathedral in Salt Lake City.  Couldn't exactly come this far and not go investigate a little bit.  They did try to engage us in their propaganda and we did find a note from Jesus on our car.  Trying to piece together our experiences in SLC, a place that pilgrims have been traveling to for centuries, we are left with the idea that sometimes you have to go to the ends of the earth for inspiration and salvation.  In our case, we all worship in the house of art.  The pilgrimage to Salt Lake City sure filled our souls and opened the door for more art adventures in the future.  You never know where that road will lead...

A Heavenly View

After seeing so many photos of the Spiral Jetty from the air, we just had to see it from that vantage too.  After much research we finally found a charter helicopter to take us out there.

Salt Lake City - Not for Teetotalers Anymore!

Heading out to our weekend in Salt Lake City, we were expecting the worst when it came to eating and drinking but we couldn't have been more wrong.  Much to our surprise, those Mormons love to drink the suds and some of them actually have a sense of humor!  We set out to sample as much of the local brew as possible.

Trains & Rocketships

Driving around Utah we came across two unexpected sites: two vintage trains facing each other commemorating the Golden Spike and this Western outpost of Nasa...go figure.  Each offered us some great Kodak moments.

Mud, Salt Crystals, Rocks, Water

WOW!  We found it!  We are actually here.  It is beyond our wildest expectations.  At first, from the road the jetty sort of looks smaller than we thought. But it's actually 1500 feet long and 15 feet wide - for people that like to know those things.  The pink and white colors of the salt crystals, the blue sky and the gray of the basalt rocks make a beautiful palette.  We are so excited!  Like Dorothy finally catching her first glimpse of the Emerald City, we run down to experience the glory of Robert Smithson.


























































































































































































To view a film of Smithson constructing The Spiral Jetty, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg_iJp6LAUc&feature=related

Art Pilgrims - The Spiral Jetty, Salt Lake City, Utah

Studying Art History as all three of us Art Girls did, you inevitably learn about "Earth Art" of the 1970s and in that lecture you see an image of The Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson.  It is without question, the most well-known, successfully realized, mysterious work of art in this movement, and very few people have seen it other than in photographs.  This work is legendary.  It is extremely difficult to find.  The artist died shortly after completing it, and then the work was claimed by the earth (in this case the Great Salt Lake), hidden for more than 30 years.  Well, for the past couple of years there were rumors that the effects of climate change were decreasing the volume of the Great Salt Lake and, in turn, exposing the Spiral Jetty.  We set out to Salt Lake City, Utah to investigate.

Renting a high clearance vehicle is highly advised.  Provisions are necessary as the site is 2 hours from any road.  No cell service.  DIA provides general directions that include items like "veer left at the cattle crossing," which we follow to the letter.   Art Girls bring Kevin and Muchane for fun, their good looks and just in case.  Here are some photos of our art pilgrimage.

Sonja is in charge of navigation.

Off the highway, our first affirmation.

Road is getting smaller and less paved.

Another 2 miles after the cattle crossing.

Closing In

High clearance vehicle definitely required.

Our first sighting!