Titlted Arc is a site specific installation done by Richard Serra in 1981. It is a 12 feet tall by 120 long curved wall made of raw steel.
Serra installed it in the center of the Foley Federal Plaza in New York City, essentially dividing the plaza in half. By placing it there, Serra's artwork bisected the space, blocking views and paths of those who frequented the plaza.
Richard Serra describes the piece as, "The viewer becomes aware of himself and of his movement through the plaza. As he moves, the sculpture changes. Contraction and expansion of the sculpture result from the viewer's movement. Step by step the perception not only of the sculpture but of the entire environment changes."
However, as soon as the sculpture was erected, it generated controversy.
Workers who used the Federal Plaza became fed up with it, claiming it interfered with the plaza use, as it essentially blocked a popular pathway of workers. However, the workers argued for its removal by claiming it "attracting graffiti, rats, and terrorists who might use it as a blasting wall for bombs."
Eventually the removal or relocation of the wall was put to a vote, in which Serra claimed if the sculpture is relocated, he will remove his name from it.
The wall was a site-specific installation, meaning that the piece cannot be removed from its location without losing the meaning. In the case for Tilted Arc, Serra said the sculpture was meant to interact with the commuter passing through the plaza, which is a location usually passed through quickly on the way to somewhere else. I believe Richard Serra wanted to give pause to the daily routine of a worker walking through the plaza on their day-to-day work. While the piece was standing, this idea did find fruition, as one worker complained:
"Every time I pass this so-called sculpture I just can’t believe it ... The General Services Administration, or whoever approved this, this goes beyond the realm of stupidity. This goes into even worse than insanity. I think an insane person would say, ‘How crazy can you be to pay $175,000 for that rusted metal wall?' You would have to be insane-more than insane."
Eventually, though, the piece was voted 4-1 to be removed, and during the night workers came and cut it down and placed it in storage.
Richard Serra's Titled Arc exemplifies the legal system of the United States's preference towards property rights over freedom of expression. And the following year, the Visual Artists Rights Act was put in place.
-Post by Ricky
Serra installed it in the center of the Foley Federal Plaza in New York City, essentially dividing the plaza in half. By placing it there, Serra's artwork bisected the space, blocking views and paths of those who frequented the plaza.
Richard Serra describes the piece as, "The viewer becomes aware of himself and of his movement through the plaza. As he moves, the sculpture changes. Contraction and expansion of the sculpture result from the viewer's movement. Step by step the perception not only of the sculpture but of the entire environment changes."
However, as soon as the sculpture was erected, it generated controversy.
Workers who used the Federal Plaza became fed up with it, claiming it interfered with the plaza use, as it essentially blocked a popular pathway of workers. However, the workers argued for its removal by claiming it "attracting graffiti, rats, and terrorists who might use it as a blasting wall for bombs."
Eventually the removal or relocation of the wall was put to a vote, in which Serra claimed if the sculpture is relocated, he will remove his name from it.
The wall was a site-specific installation, meaning that the piece cannot be removed from its location without losing the meaning. In the case for Tilted Arc, Serra said the sculpture was meant to interact with the commuter passing through the plaza, which is a location usually passed through quickly on the way to somewhere else. I believe Richard Serra wanted to give pause to the daily routine of a worker walking through the plaza on their day-to-day work. While the piece was standing, this idea did find fruition, as one worker complained:
"Every time I pass this so-called sculpture I just can’t believe it ... The General Services Administration, or whoever approved this, this goes beyond the realm of stupidity. This goes into even worse than insanity. I think an insane person would say, ‘How crazy can you be to pay $175,000 for that rusted metal wall?' You would have to be insane-more than insane."
Eventually, though, the piece was voted 4-1 to be removed, and during the night workers came and cut it down and placed it in storage.
Richard Serra's Titled Arc exemplifies the legal system of the United States's preference towards property rights over freedom of expression. And the following year, the Visual Artists Rights Act was put in place.
-Post by Ricky