First Land Art

Today I went to experience the Earthwork called Double Negative by artist Michael Heizer.  This specific earthwork is located just outside of Overton, NV, which is about 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas. 

While steadily holding the steering wheel my car inched its way up the rough terrain of the mountain away from civilization.  Heavily breathing, but trying to stay calm, I wondered where exactly this road was leading me?  To the right of me was the side of the mountain and to the left was a steep edge.  As my car peaked the mountain I was back to flat land and the directions said to pass the cattle gate and continue straight for 3 miles.  There were no cattle.  I eventually reached the open canyon and turned left at the second cattle gate, now I was driving parallel to the canyon on a highly rough terrain road, that is if I would even call it a road.  I worked my way down the road for about two miles and I was there.   I parked my car, exited and walked 50 yards to one of the two “cuts” in the land. 

Double negative is comprised of two long deep cuts that have been made into the rock at the edge of the canyon.  The two cuts are on opposite sides of the canyon, but are strategically place to line up with one another.  

I was able to experience the open land in complete solitude and take in the remarkable simplicity of the cuts.  Legs slightly shaking from the drive, I took a deep breath and allowed myself to just take in this physical experience, for this is what I had been waiting for.  Standing at the edge of the northern cut looking south I grasped the spatial perspective of line.  That’s exactly what it comes down to…    

Standing at the Northern cut looking south to the opposing cut.

Northern Cut

South cut, facing North

The base of the south cut had less rubble than the base of the north cut.

First cattle gate

Leaving