Robert Smithson /

This catalog of a retrospective of the art of Robert Smithson (1938-73) held at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles in fall 2004 contains 11 essays by scholars. Best known for his large earthworks, notably Spiral Jetty (1970) in Utah's Great Salt Lake, Smithson may seem to be a paradoxical artist for an exhibition on museum walls. Yet his life works reach across sculpture, photography, film, drawing, and writing. Moreover, the earthworks were accompanied by myriad drawings and documentation, and there are copious on-site photographs--all fitting suitably into the confines of a museum. Less known are his earlier works, such as drawings and collages covering themes from science fiction and religion, executed in an expressionist style common among males of his generation. Most insightful is a transcript of a 1973 interview, which reveals the influence of (or perhaps obsession with) Marcel Duchamp; the topics are wide-ranging but Smithson keeps coming back to Duchamp, usually to find fault. The eclecticism of the interview is reflected in the sweep of material from his personal library (books, magazines, and records), a catalog of which is included in the book. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. D. Topper University of Winnipeg

Smithson (1938-73) broke new ground during the Sixties by utilizing materials like concrete, mirrors, and asphalt. Combining striking imagery of his work with critical essays, this retrospective fully captures his still innovative ideas. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.