Wednesday, January 30, 2008

SPIRAL JETTY IN DANGER: ACT NOW!


Saw that post on Tyler Green's MAN right this minute. I'm a bit in a hurry and can only copy and paste Green's text (apologies for blatant appropriation). As you will see in his post, Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty is threatened by oil drillers. Anyway, I've been fortunate to visit Spiral Jetty twice, and whatever Smithson's writing about entropy, etc. I'd like to remind you all this is only one of a handful of original, not-reconstructed, not-recreated Smithson's artworks. As well as an iconic 20th century masterpiece.
Green also underlines the ecological implications of drilling oil in the Great Salt Lake region.

I'm not 100% certain of the veracity of the information except that the information is quoted as originating from Nancy Holt. You can read Green's post here, and then act accordingly if you wish to do so. I'm a bit surprised at the "act today before 7PM" note (is the information new? is the emergency now?). If you have reliable info from Nancy Holt herself, or the Center For Land Use Interpretation, please let me know.
UPDATE: I've just received confirmation from former museum colleagues that the email (which has been forwarded to me) originated from Nancy Holt (Smithson's widow).


Anyway, please, act today as best as you can if you wish to help, you art and non-art people alike.
Thanks!

Green's post below:

Spiral Jetty threatened by energy development

Nancy Holt, Robert Smithson's widow, recently sent an email out detailing specific threats to Smithson's masterpiece, Spiral Jetty. Click below to read it -- and please take action before 7 pm ET today.

Yesterday I received an urgent email from Lynn DeFreitas, Director of Friends of the Great Salt Lake, telling me of plans for drilling oil in the Salt Lake near Spiral Jetty. See Attachments. The deadline for protest is [today] Wednesday, at 5PM. Of course, DIA has been informed and are meeting about it today.

I have been told by Lynn that the oil wells will not be above the water, but that means some kind of industrial complex of pipes and pumps beneath the water and on the shore. The operation would require roads for oil tank trucks, cranes, pumps etc. which produce noise and will severely alter the wild, natural place.

If you want to send a letter of protest to save the beautiful, natural Utah environment around the Spiral Jetty from oil drilling, the emails or calls of protest go to Jonathan Jemming 801-537-9023 jjemming@utah.gov. Please refer to Application # 8853. Every letter makes a big difference, they do take a lot of notice and know that publicity may follow. Since the Spiral Jetty has global significance, emails from foreign countries would be of special value.

They try to slip these drilling contracts under the radar, that¹s why we found out so late, not through notification, but from a watchdog lawyer at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, the group that alerted me to the land leasing for oil and gas near Sun Tunnels last May.

Thank you for your consideration of this serious environmental matter.

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