Spiral Jetty: Great Art Explained
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- Опубліковано 21 січ 2025
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"What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter 12 December 2020
"Thoroughly researched and cleverly presented, with stunning visuals, Great Art Explained makes you realise that familiarity with a work of art sometimes makes us indifferent to its power" - Forbes Magazine, 9 July 2020
Great art explained. James Payne discusses 'The Spiral Jetty''.
I started "Great Art Explained" during lockdown. My aim is to make videos which focus on one great artwork. I want to present art in a jargon free, entertaining, clear and concise way with no gimmicks.
Subscribe and click the bell icon to get more arts content. Each video takes me about three weeks to a month, so I download at least once a month:
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You could say Land art existed thousands of years even before oil painting, but it would take a group of American artists to bring it back to the public gaze in the 1960s and 70s. Artists like Michael Heizer, Robert Smithson, and Nancy Holt had emerged from sculpture, minimalism and conceptual art. Rather than painting the landscape, they started working outdoors and sculpting directly into the landscape itself. Instead of paint brushes, they would use bulldozers, and the earth would be, not only the site, but also the materials and the canvas.
CREDITS
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel does not claim any right over them. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty, 1970.nancy holt/©holt Smithson foundation and Dia art foundation
VIDEO CLIPS WITH PERMISSION
Pink Great Salt Lakes, Skyborne productions - • PINK Great Salt Lake i...
Stonehenge by High on your Drone Boy - • Stonehenge | DJI Mavic...
Amarillo Ramp by Paramotor Theory - • Smokey flight to the A...
Spiral Jetty by Hanson Aerial photography - • Spiral Jetty
The Spiral Jetty of The Great Salt Lake: Cinematic Drone Footage by West World Drone - • The Spiral Jetty of Th...
Great Salt Lake Time Lapse - google earth - • Exploring Timelapse in...
POTASSIUM MINES - • Video
TRAIN - • RailScene USA Focus: T...
MUSIC
Violin - Music - • Video
Incidental - • Royalty free Minimalis...
BOOKS
Robert Smithson: The Collected Writings
Robert Smithson by Eugenie Tsai
The Spiral Jetty Encyclo: Exploring Robert Smithson’s Earthwork through Time and Place by Hikmet Sidney Loe
SUBTITLES
Chinese subtitles by Xue Charles
Thanks to Bart Vergouwe for Dutch Subtitles.
German Subtitles by Victoria Drabik
Great Art Explained totally unique merchandise available here - crowdmade.com/collections/greatartexplained
I actually live in the area and had a chance to see this as part of a school trip. It's honestly overwhelming to experience and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was on another planet. The sky was extremely overcast, and the water was barely over a foot deep. It helped that we were the only group there and the trip itself felt like traveling across an ocean of unfamiliar hilly landmasses for so long to reach a location so quiet and desolate that I felt I was in a silent dream. Memories from that are hardcoded in me to this day.
But is it art? I see it as “fun with stuff”. It does seem cool and neat. From what your saying, it’s like a living monument of nature. But is it art?
@@dancummane3668 what is art?
Wow you had a awesome experience.✨✨✨💕💕
Have a wish to go and see by myself one day.💫💫
@@dancummane3668 I have to argue yes, it is art. I see why you're questioning the merits at all, I truly think I do. But my gut personal Truth screamed this in retort - "It is art because of the elemental fact that this artist/ any artist's work is just that because they're creating and shaping and building a visual or otherwise sensory experience with their hands and their visions!"
@@MrByebyelove fair enough. But what separates my gardener and his creative streak from Dali? I would say that the jetty is artistic landscaping rather than art. That’s my gut. There is little skill involved. It’s done by machinery. There’s no nuance, subtly, or anything in the jetty. They just dumped rocks into a rough pattern. Anyone could visualise and excecute this “piece”. It’s more iconography. Great mountains make you feel awe and wonder, but mountains are not art. Freezing water makes you scream but it’s not art. If it is art, then it’s incomparable to “David” or “Mona Lisa” or Mozart. It’s childish almost.
One of the best channels I've discovered this year... amazing breakdowns and everything is always worded so wonderfully.. keep up the great work!
I cannot agree more!
Which others would you recommend?
the one and the only
Pad u here boi
glad to see you here Mr Chennington!
I didn’t know anything about and therefore didn’t think id be interested in land art but this has totally changed my mind. So glad I watched this. Fascinating. Well done.
Thanks for the comment! I’m trying to do a broad range of what is considered great art! 🙏
You should watch Waldemar Januszczak's "the sculpture diaries" Episode 3 - land art - its fantastic and I want to go to Utah to see a lot of it...
These videos are addictive, I've watched one after another. They are so well done and interesting! Great work! 👌👍
True 💯💯%%
Exactly, and I can't decide if it is because of the videos' quality, narrator's voice, his writing or art itself
The quality of this documentary is immensely impressive, the flow, content and editing make it sublime to watch. Very well done!
Thanks Jonathan 🙏
Fantastic video! I found myself becoming incredibly nostalgic. When I was a student at an art college, I once had a class that was exclusively concerned with the works of Robert Smithson and the Brazilian artist Hélio Oiticica. It was an extremely theory-dense class, as both artists produced works that were heavily grounded in innovative concepts. I was so pleased to see that entropy was addressed here-- really, one cannot talk about Smithson *without* addressing entropy. It was my first real reckoning with the idea that, as an artist, my work is (on a long enough timeline) impermanent. And it was an enormous shock to my sensibilities to learn that for some artists, impermanence is a feature, not a bug! In Western art, we're *so* married to the romanticized ideas of the artist as solitary genius and the work of art as an enduring symbol of that genius, that we fool ourselves into thinking there's actually such a thing as permanence. I even had another instructor at the same college contend that I could preserve my work indefinitely by getting it into a museum setting. And yes, perhaps in a gallery system, we can preserve artwork for centuries, even millennia-- but in the grand scheme of things, nothing really lasts forever. Learning how to be okay with that comes a lot easier to some than it does to others, because if you place much importance in your artistic legacy, it's a bit of a memento mori-- but one that also includes your creations as well.
Great comment thanks so much 🙏
Awesome words✨✨✨✨
Why is your comment so good, fantastic thoughts here!!!!
Fascinating! I love how the spiral jetty suddenly emerges from underwater after decades like a jewel encrusted marvel. Brilliant!
Thanks 🙏
Love this story - when put back in context, his art made a point back then about art not having to be in a gallery. But today, it is still relevant as people make a point about climate change. Thank you for another wonderful art lesson!
Thanks so much for watching - and commenting! 🙏
Yes, climate change make purely the artist emotions
"Nature does not proceed in a straight line, it is rather a sprawling development."
Robert Smithson
Spiralling, no wonder.
Thorough explanation: clear and concise. Great job!
I tried to fit that quote in but it didn’t work in the edit - thanks for dropping it in 🙏
What I love about this channel is that it explains what really makes the featured art special: the stories behind the art.
I wish your channel was called 'Great Art Explained in 15 hours'. That's how long I would listen to you for. 15 minutes seems so short.
Another excellent video.
Your videos demonstrate that a great teacher makes all the difference in getting students interested in learning.
Please never stop making these videos! Such fantastic commentary.
Thanks 🙏
GAE, I live two hours away from the Spiral Jetty and didn’t think twice about it. After watching this, I’m gonna try and go next weekend. Thank you for the sense of adventure I now feel! And thank you for telling an incredible story about this incredible piece of art.
I’m so glad you’re on UA-cam, but it must be said you deserve to be picked up by a major broadcaster.
Thank you 🙏
…yet within that context you would lose credibility.
@@mobiditch6848 That very painful paradox...
I really really appreciate every new video. It's an opportunity to explore and appreciate art at a deeper level. This truly is a gift, amazing as always. Thank you!!
Thanks 🙏
Utterly fascinating. Was unaware of the influence that both prehistoric landmarks and sci-fi literature played in this artistic expression. I love that your videos are highlighting great art that is not necessarily known to us in the general public.
Thanks for watching 🙏
incredible documentary. I'm so happy to get to know new artists thanks to you. Everytime you upload a new work you make my day way better. thank you.
Excellent! Thank you 🙏
Cannot get enough content from this channel. Please keep up the outstanding work!
The Great Salt Lake is unique in so many ways -it's the saltiest body of water on earth, home to entirely unique extremophile species, and hosts one of the most famous pieces of land art in the world. Thanks for shedding some light on it :)
Thanks 🙏
best series on YT rn. hands down. Do an episode on Richard Serra!
It's absolutely amazing that the topics the art world is said to be discussing around the 3 minute mark is literally what my university's art department has been discussing in my art curation course. Art in a gallery and being sell-able is almost word for word what we talked about last night, and the world is changing so rapidly right now. This video was right on time and so well done as always!! :^)
Fascinating! An area of creative art about which l knew very little... it,s not just about brushes and a palette! What diversity !! Not my own personal taste but the art and artist totally appreciated ... thank you once again for a very informative 15 minutes....!
I was always fascinated by this project since I was a teenager and I saw it in the very early '70s. A piece of art that couldn't be more contemporary today, after 50 years! Thank you for the wonderful narration!
Your contents deserve more attention. I like the atmosphere in your videos, which is elevated by your voice and the moderate pace you unfold the story.
I LOVE It when you do modern art videos. The require more explanations than classical art.
Literally had no idea whatsoever who this guy was but now I’m even more interested in his art ! Please more unknown artists like this !
I just visited this yesterday! Incredible
Love the breadth of Great Art covered in your channel!
Thanks for the comment!
The content is always right there in front of us ; but the context . . . seems to be the greater part of the Master piece
Great comment - thanks so much!
I didn't know about land art before watching this piece. Conceptual art does not always deliver on its promises and thus I was sceptical. But boy I was wrong. Great video - as always!
You have no idea of how much these videos changed my professional (and personal) artist life for the better. I cant thank you enough!
Definetely going patreon next month
You just opened up a whole new art world for me, and many others I'm sure. Amazing work, absolutely fascinating and so professionally narrated and edited. Many many thanks to you!
Please leave a comment (even a short one) and "like" the video. It really helps promote the channel on UA-cam. I appreciate it! James
So happy that you reuploaded it, because this is the only channel I put notification on. Amazing and insightful content as always. Thank you!
Thanks Riska!
Some time ago, I was watching Antiques Road Show (American edition) and drawings of the jetty were evaluated by the experts. I think the owner was the son of the man who engineered the project. The art expert considered them VERY valuable, although I don't remember his estimate. They talked about Smithson changing his mind on the design and there were different versions in the drawings. Fascinating analysis of the work.
Yes I watched that for my research - he is Bob Phillips’ son. Worth a Couple of hundred grand I think
You can see the segment on UA-cam: “1970 Robert Smithson Spiral Jetty Plans | Salt Lake City Hour 2 | Preview” with additional comments from the owner Rick Phillips in “More from the "Spiral Jetty" Owner | Owner Interview | Salt Lake City.” The appraisal was made in 2017 and the collection was valued at $47,500.
Excellent. Every second of this was a pleasure. Thank you so much for educating me.
Notification squad where you at??? Thank you again for your hard work Mr. Payne!!!
Thanks so much!
I just want to say that I just saw that this video was posted, but I don’t have the time right now to truly appreciate this video. So, you can that bet that once I have the time to truly appreciate this video, I will soak it all in.
By far my favourite UA-cam channel. Thank you for being.
As an art history major, these videos have brought me back to why I love art. It brings me more knowledge of world history than any other perspective. I didn’t understand wars and geography and politics until I delved into the artwork created out of response to these things.
I had always imagined spirals to be peculiar to ancient Celtic art. How interesting that, at a time with (no?) intercontinental travel, the same motif appears all over. This episode was, as usual, beautiful. I'm a little sad, though. If Smithson accomplished such a profound and beautiful work in his thirties, what might he have done had he lived? Thank you, James. I'll be thinking of this for a long time.
Yes I often think what he could have achieved. I wish the copper mine had agreed to his proposal. Thanks for the comment 🙏
Just give a kid a stick in the sand. It's natural to draw a circle and swirl it. You don't need a concept or a meaning. People have a tendency to add meaning after the fact.
The spiral is a very common motif in ancient art in every part of the world. There are both biological and psychological reasons for this and it is not something that "belongs" to a certain culture or time period. A very good choice by Smithson therefore.
Archetypal imagery connoting the centrifugal-centripetal movement of Energy (perception, awareness and interaction) between Self and Other.
It is never a bad day when you post! Super super excited to watch this video. You truly never disappoint. Thank you :)
This piece I had now idea about, but, as everything in this channel, had me fascinated. Thank you.
My introduction to Smithson was actually Alice Neel's 1962 portrait of him. I saw his work "Non-Site Essen" and was fascinated that a pile of dirt from Germany and mirrors appeared in the middle of an art museum. I could never explain why I was drawn to his work (most minimalism doesn't move me) and a lot of my friends thought I was being pretentious whenever I'd cite his work.
So thank you for distilling this artist down to a manageable, easily understood film.
Wonderful video. Thank you - I've been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint!
Thanks for watching Heather!
It amazes me how you can easily guide us through art created in different eras and using all sorts of medias. It's been very enriching learning with your channel!
Many people today seldom take the time to learn about this earth work and meaning behind it. Such is the state art education and science since 2017. To learn means you must step outside your comfort zone and preconceptions.
Another fascinating story on art that widens my perspective. Thank you!
Great as always. Wow, that spiral of creation transcended the artist, and it went under the care of mother nature. Beautiful
You already have been told that what you're doing is amazing and inspiring and it's true.
I thought it's a channel dedicated to great paintings(still, it's great) but it amazes me that it covers a number of creations in general. I think it would be great to expand to other arts too, like music, film. literature etc. Keep up the good work, looking forward to more of these great videos. Thank you.
More please. Never stop. Can’t get enough.
up to now i found the spiral jetty rather unreachable. Thanks for this. I think this video really gets to the heart of what smithson was after.
It's really fascinating. Not only the art, but specially the way you talk about it. Congratulations!
Thanks 🙏
Another excellent deep dive into an artistic treasure.
Thank you!
I have binged on your every video, watching some 4 times again and again. I absolutely LOVE your channel. Thank you so much 🙏🏻♥️
Before I came across your channel I was ignorant and thought that the the more realistic the piece is, the better it is and did not care for it. After watching your channel I realised that it's not all about the piece of art itself but also the artist, their life and the context in which it was done. Really love your channel! I wonder if there is a channel as good as this one for music 🤔?
This channel makes me so hungry for more! My favorite of all by far.
You've done it again James! Amazing narration and analysis 💐 I wouldn't even be surprised if students start to use your videos as their source and work materials :)) they are so well analysed , documented and condensed!! Keep going :)
I’ve watched several of your videos with my 9 and 10 year old children.
Thank you for explaining why art matters.
It truly is an ethereal place. Thank you for the video. Spiral Jetty is one of my favorite places in Utah.
What an amazing channel and beautiful, meaningful and inspiring story! As much I love discovering new unknown background of the art pieces I was already familiar before, it is stories like these that ignite that joy of art discovery! Land art was completely brushed off in my art history lessons, so I’m so happy for having discovered your channel! The quality of your work certainly deserves more recognition and views❤️
One of the most quality channels on the whole UA-cam!
First time I herd about land art and this channel. I'm fascinated. It's like finding a diamond among all the media garbage.
best channel- not just on youtube- but anywhere. all your videos give me the same sense as walking into a hallowed gallery. both before & after.
Wonderful explanation about the history of the spiral jetty and related movement. Learned a lot.
Excellent. Thanks 🙏
Another brilliant effort, thank you. Never heard of RS or his work, and that’s the point of following your videos which are exceptional - each new release is an event. So glad I became Patreon subscriber.
it is such a tragedy that he never got to see just how the piece developed over time! another amazing video, thank you
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep making this GREAT channel. We need YOUR art.
Amazing channel! I can UA-cam guilt free because every video of yours I watch adds to my knowledge and culture. Keep making these please!!!!
Another amazing episode and another fascinating discovery. Thank you for all your work. I cannot imagine how much time and research it takes to deliver episodes so informative and with such a constant level of quality.
This work changed the way I perceive arts. Thank you for making this video for us.
Absolutely fabulous! I love Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt dearly, thank you for adding some wonderful context to their practice.
Spiral Jetty sounds like a Megaman X boss!
Oh and uh... Great channel, for real many others have already said it but I honestly never knew I'd be so interested in Art History.
Also I respect the lack of sponsors on this channel. It really drives home the idea that you're doing this for the sake of doing it and not trying to peddle useless crap onto your audience.
Looking forward to learning more! 💎
I get so excited whenever you post a video. Thank you
Thanks 🙏
I love all your videos and especially how you break down each piece of art and explain it so well and intricately. Thank you for making these for th world to see
So good! Again. The editing here carries the story/art, too. 👏🏽👏🏼👏🏿
Am I the only one who noticed 'Great Sculpture Explained' title in the intro, instead of 'Great Art Explained'? I'm not sure I commented before here, but this channel is incredible. I'm watching each video for 2/3 weeks, then move to the next one, in order to absord and appreciate everything.
Thanks 🙏
Land art is unfamiliar to me and I wasnt sure I'd be interested but I found myself smiling after watching your video. I subscribed to your channel mainly because of the paintings (which I got so interested in after reading The Goldfinch). Thank you for introducing me to this form of art and for the many more that I'll be learning thru you and your channel. Great content, as always.
Always love your in-depth analysis of these works and the minds and lives behind them. Thank you for what you do!
Been watching since 34k subscribers. Only problem I have with this channel is that I’ve already seen all your videos ! Can’t wait for more
Thanks for your continued support Jake 🙏
I binged all your videos without knowing and now I have to rewatch all of them! Thanks for making amazing content!
I saw this in the mid 70's from the air. I was on a medical flight northbound out of Salt Lake and just happened to look down. It was under water- an amazing sight.
i just discovered this channel and please continue. i'm obsessed. i would LOVE to see more modern pieces broken down.
Thank you so much, James! The artwork, your approach and the editing is impeccable - as always! Keep it coming, and congratulations on your success!
Further suggestions: Just recently I became obsessed with the paintings of Tamara de Lempicka. I would love to hear your explanations! Greetings from Germany
Thank you Eva 🙏
Great job, mate. Never heard of this before. Loved your commentary. Please do not stop and go on.
Thank you for watching 🙏
Another nice production. I was completely unaware of this, and I grew up in Denver at the time of it's construct and even lived in Salt Lake for a year, and never heard a thing about it. It is a mesmerizing work.
i had never heard of this piece, nor the artist, nor the movement, so this was a real treat for me.
Gorgeous reflection, thank you.
Amazing video once again. I am extremely grateful I have found this channel. As a non art person your content is right to the point, interesting and easy to grasp. Please keep it up! 🍀
Yet another informative and entertaining video. Thank you, James!
Thanks very much Tom 🙏
thank you so much! i voted for this when you asked for suggestions for future topics, didn't expect it to come so soon and so well researched, i am so delighted with it :-)
In 2019 before Covid appeared, I went to visit it as I was travelling around the world with my motorcycle. I left France to ride East, I’ve seen the Taj Mahal and all the other major artworks and buildings in this world. That spiral is one of the very few things that still leave me puzzled, as I still don’t know how to feel about it! On that day I was alone on site, just the lake, my motorcycle and that spiral. Walking around and over it, or climbing away from it to have an overview remains such a unique experience, thanks for making this video! Sylvain
Thanks for the great comment 🙏
I like how it doesnt go straight out at a 90 degree angle from the curve of the beach, it just stands in its own way :)
I absolutely love this channel and the work that is done here. Thank you!
Your channel singlehandedly rekindled my interest in art. Superb stuff!
Wonderful, again! Just dont want the videos to end. Cannot thank enough for this high-quality, inspiring content.
Yup, even though I never have been interested in this kind of art, this video was again eye opening! Keep your selection process as it is, and keep surprising us.
Absolutely love your channel. Phenomenal content. Can’t wait to see which works of art you will discuss next!