I don’t really connect to sculpture on emotional level too much, but I did enjoy Smithson’s exhibit. What I did react to was learning that Smithson had died. I had always been under the impression that what made the difference between a pile of dirt and art was the artist’s intent and hand; that every little pebble had been placed by and carried the signature of the artist. I had proposed during our debrief the question whether pieces like that being installed by another diminished the quality or effect of the piece. Obviously the value is then placed on the concept, but I wonder how others feel. I personally loathe artists like Jeff Koons, who has a massive workshop and hardly even touches his work besides creating the concept. Does the artist need to have a physical relationship the art, like I believe, or is simply having the idea good enough?
-Kam