Untitled (Steam Work for Bellingham)

by Robert Morris

Reflection in ideas (Isaac Barcoe-Walsh), animation (Steam Works for Bellingham by Elaina Boon) and music (Steam Works for winds  by Tate Cohan).

Robert Morris was born on February 9^th 1931 in Kansas City. Robert has done many things and took many career paths in the field of art. He is a writer, conceptual artist, and sculptor. Robert is most famous and known for his major moves and inspiration for his works within the Minimalist sculptures, Earthworks, and Process Art. He studied engineering at the University of Kansas and art at the Kansas Institute of Art, during which his time of study was interrupted by his decision to serve for the U.S. Army in Arizona and Korea during 1951-52.

The work we are studying is Untitled (Steam Work for Bellingham). This was not Morris’ first work and especially not his first work in steam. He was also a big advocate of working with steam in the late 1960’s, Robert Morris installed a similar sculpture. Within this work steam rose (similar to the works we see here on campus), Thus making it impossible to showcase these works due to their large size and their necessity to remain where they are and stay in contact with the surround earth. When they were attempted to be put in galleries the works took up too much space due to their size.

Morris’ had a different mindset in his art, he was focused more on whether his art could function and do something rather than the emotion or feeling a viewer would receive. This is a very prevalent thing when looking at his works here on campus, and when looking at Untitled (Steam Work for Bellingham) the viewer is left in awe due to the work coming alive rather than the work saying something.

Within the 1960s leading up to this time the world and our nation were in war after war. The tensions were very high due to the Cold War and the destruction of the Vietnam war was terrible. I think these inspired Robert Morris and his works. Robert Morris may have gotten his spark to be very environmental and look after the Earth because all the toxic things happening during his time. It is possible he did this to show people that we need to take care of our planet and the things it holds, rather than to tear it up and destroy it for war. I think with Untitled (Steam Work for Bellingham) we can see this in how this artwork might suggest that the Earth is a great and amazing place and that it itself can do amazing things. Robert Morris was a key factor in being a creator and big advocate of the minimalist movement by establishing and creating the three key principals that make up this great movement: earthworks, process art and minimalist sculpture. We see all three of these elements in the Untitled (Steam Work for Bellingham).

Our interpretation

When looking at the sculptural work the viewer is left with feeling nothing but peacefulness. The art brings relaxation that one can only achieve usually through meditation, something rare especially being in a stressful college environment. Something that sets this aside from other works of art is its placement connection to the earth and finding its purpose. With the rocks it allows those who pass by to leave their own mark, being able to stack them or rearrange them in a manner that satisfies them. This interaction with the work of art allows all to connect and interoperate the work of art anyway they see fit. Another great thing is how this piece of art can change in significance and appearance based on the time of day. The steam In the art can be more present during specific times of day and in order to capture it all one more be willing to visit the sculptor multiple times at different times of day. With that one is venerable to the effect of the steam escaping the group and coming over and covering the surrounding earth and becoming one with the surrounding world it is truly amazing. This can be linked to death and how one dies, they slowly decompose and become one with the earth.

Works cited

Morris, Robert. Continuous project altered daily. 1970.

“Masterpieces of Minimalism by Robert Morris.” DailyArtDaily.com, 14 Feb. 2017, www.dailyartdaily.com/masterpieces-minimalism-robert-morris/.

“Robert Morris Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist-morris-robert.htm.

“Robert Morris.” Guggenheim, www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/robert-morris.