Transient Earth Structures
Herb Parker
July 15 – September 30, 1986
Herb Parker, Transient Earth Structures, 1986; sod, steel, light; sod squares measuring 9" x 9" x 3". Central temple: 9' H x 9" L x 9' D
Artist Statement
My earthworks are site-specific installations in as much as the work is an integral part of its environment. For instance, the two pyramid shapes were a response to the terminal points of the two radiating concrete steps on the site. Equally relevant to site is scale, with regard to the interaction between participant and environment. I try to create an intimacy with the work by placing it on a human scale. Beyond site and scale, the works have an archaic architectonic formalism which establishes a cultural and historical involvement with the landscape.
The most symbolic aspect of the work is its ephemeral nature. Time plays the most significant role and is magnified by the effects of entropy. A dichotomy exists between man's fleeting attempt to dominate nature and the subliminal recognition that humankind is a component of the natural order.
The temple/shrine structures that I fabricate are a celebration of nature and a metaphor for the continuum of systems within this natural order. Under optimum conditions, the relationship between excavation and construction is designed to give a feeling of unity. I am interested in the transformation of the work from structures which are obviously man-made, into structures which seem to come from nature, as evidenced in the work after the 10 week exhibition period.
