The first thing I noticed about this overview of Serra’s work was the statement about the involvement of others to help construct his art. Not just the physical act of creating the piece, but all the planning was even done by more than just Serra himself. It has me wondering why his work is credited only to him. This is the case with many artists and I wonder if these helpers do not feel somewhat entitled to credit as well.
I like when Serra talks about there being “no prescribed way” to learn rigging. I think that can be said for most things – that you can learn bits and pieces from books but what really teaches you is your hands on experience, repetition, and practice.
Though the rest of my observations and opinions of the reading aren’t really connected with the previous two statements I thought they were worth noting for discussion.
Overall, I like Serra’s political attitude and also how he views the process of creating his work. He says it has gotten to the point that “there’s nothing mysterious about it”. I don’t know whether that would be frustrating or not – always knowing exactly how to execute your ideas, or always having someone sort them out for you.
I do really like his explanation of his work (his “anti-environments”). I wouldn’t have probably seen them as such without reading this section. I like that there’s no functionality or use in the work because it makes you realize precisely that. I’m sure so many people see his work and think it is pointless, but I think he is drawing attention to the fact that art shouldn’t be made to, or have to, fit the publics agenda.
When Serra talks about the chance of art being “co-opted” by the place it is presented, I totally agree. I think people have to be careful of where the present their art because that does change the way it represents itself to the public.
The last paragraph of the reading was my favorite, and I wish he’d elaborated more. Art in museums, for the most part, seems to be less restricted than sculpture that is in the open public. I truly like the idea of having huge pieces you can see in every day life and that make you feel, or look at things, differently. However, like Serra said, the government doesn’t want that. This may explain why so much outside sculpture looks the same…
It’s frustrating that artist must deal with the criticism of closed minded people that only see what they want to see as art. Art is too in depth to even try to explain to someone that. It definitely can’t be limited to one persons, or a group of peoples, agenda. I think that is what Serra is trying to say with his work, at least that is what I take from it.