14 october 2011 visit to 'Broken Circle / Spiral Circle'

14 october 2011 visit to 'Broken Circle / Spiral Circle'

Visit to 'Broken Circle/Spiral Hill' by Robert Smithson, near Emmen

Information on Broken Circle/Spiral Hill

Broken Circle/Spiral Hill is the only Land Art work by Robert Smithson in Europe. It was made in 1971 within the framework of the event 'Sonsbeek beyond lawn and order' Plans exists to build a visitors centre to make the work more accessible, but it is currently only open for visits during work hours.

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ROBERT SMITHSON
BROKEN CIRCLE/SPIRAL HILL

On Friday October 14, students and staff of FMI Masters and ABK Minerva bring a visit to the work Broken Circle/Spiral Hill by American artist Robert Smithson and the accompanying show Robert Smithson in Emmen Broken Circle/Spiral Hill Revisited at the CBK Emmen. Curator Roel Arkesteijn will accompany us during the day.

Programme

09.45: gathering at bus departure location, Zuiderdiep 158 (entrance Minerva)

10.00: departure to Emmen11.00: arrival at CBK Emmen, Ermerweg 88b (De Fabriek), Emmen(Introduction to/tour through the exhibition by curator Roel Arkesteijn)

13.00-13.30*: departure by bus for visit to Broken Circle/Spiral Hill Emmerhoutstraat 138/15015.30-16.00*: departure for Groningen

Costs:€ 10,00 (entrance fee location and bus)

(Please bring your own lunch, there are no lunch facilities at the CBK!)

Please register and pay at your tutor: Margo Slomp, Frank Hutchison or Monica Boekholt before October 10!*)exact time announced at location

BROKEN CIRCLE/SPIRAL HILL

Precisely 40 years ago this year, the American artist Robert Smithson produced his world-famous work of art Broken Circle/Spiral Hill in Emmen. Robert Smithson created his 'earthwork' in the sand quarry run by the De Boer company in Emmerschans, near Emmen. He produced the work at the invitation of the 'Sonsbeek buiten de perken' (Beyond the Pale) exhibition. Forty years following its completion, and after a highly eventful history, the work in Emmen is once again in good condition, and is the regular destination for those interested in Smithson's work from all over the world. Broken Circle/Spiral Hill is the only ‘earthwork' created by Smithson still in existence outside the United States. Smithson made numerous works in the land, and considered three of his monumental works to be permanent. One of these works is Broken Circle/Spiral Hill in The Netherlands, the other two are located in the United States: Spiral Jetty in the Great Salt Lake, Utah and Amarillo Ramp in Amarillo, Texas.

ROBERT SMITHSON IN EMMEN BROKEN CIRCLE/SPIRAL HILL REVISITED

From 17 September - 27 November 2011, the Centre for Visual Arts (CBK) in Emmen dedicates a major exhibition to this subject. The show contains preparatory sketches by Smithson he made during his stay of two weeks in the Emmen region in 1971 as well as documentary material of the project’s history.

Roel Arkesteijn is curator of the exhibition.

BREAKING GROUND: BROKEN CIRCLE/SPIRAL HILL (1971-2011)

As an integral part of his earthworks, Smithson made films that reveal the spatial and environmental context of the work. As a result of a tragic aircraft accident during a reconnaissance flight in 1973, Smithson’s life and work came to a premature end. Smithson was never able to finish the video Broken Circle/Spiral Hill. Forty years later, a video incorporating the original film footage is now completed on behalf of the Land Art Contemporary program in a collaboration between artist Nancy Holt and curator Theo Tegelaers of SKOR | Foundation for Art and Public Domain. The video is on view in the exhibition at CBK Emmen.

Sources/Further information:

www.cbkemmen.nl
www.landartcontemporary.nl
www.brokencircle.nl