Natural Wonder

The Horsehead Sculpture Project was an annual outdoor sculpture show organized and curated by artist Matt Lennon. An invitation to create on-site art, in a remote, natural environment is an interesting proposition for two urban dwellers who, by choice, own no vehicle. Still, we’d been impressed by the work in prior Horsehead events, so we happily embraced the opportunity. Over the years, we’ve been most impressed by site-specific work that engages the viewer by commenting on either the history and/or the future use of the land. We approached the project by doing some research about the property, which was located near Duvall, WA. When we learned that the property on which Horsehead was to take place was slated to become a gated community with a golf course, our muse gave a nod.

We proceeded with sketches, then an in-studio construction of a platform. We drilled a hole in the middle of this “green” before wrapping it in astro-turf. Support posts and pickets were also cut and painted white while still in the studio. Once transported and schlepped to the site, we assembled the fabricated pieces and mounted white picket fence slats around the structure. One flag marked the hole. The effect was every bit as jarring and out-of-place in those woods as we had imagined a golf course was going to be; our attempt to create a “sore thumb” had succeeded.

Rest assured, though, few good intentions or opportunities for reflection go unpunished by critics. We had a great laugh, when, after being impressed enough to put a large picture of Monika in front of the piece on the front page of the arts section, a Seattle critic deemed the piece mere “plop art,” proving once again that a viewer can actually “get it” and “miss it” in one fell swoop.

-John Kieltyka and Monika Lidman