Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A Seismic Act of Art Conservation

Tyler Green, writer of the finest Modern Art blog out there, Modern Art Notes, is reporting that Richard Serra's landmark Shift has been designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Per Green's account:

"Once a property has been designated under Part IV of the Act, a property owner must apply to the local municipality for a permit to undertake alterations to any of the identified heritage elements of the property or to demolish any buildings or structures on the property."

So what does that mean? That Serra's work is safe, which is, as Martha Stewart would say, a very good thing.








Photos by Shawn Micallef

See it on Google Earth here.

End highbrow posting. Discussions of words that rhyme with penis will resume shortly. Ha. Shortly.

8 comments:

fish said...

Yeah, but where is the street level retail and subway access for foot traffic?

Smut Clyde said...

I see no souvenir kiosk.

mikey said...

You guys are in LUCK!

I'll be your docent today.

Here. Put on these outfits and we'll begin....

Brett said...

Valid points. If there is no commercialism, there is no art. I learned it by watching Koons.

ckc (not kc) said...

...and, as expected, the owner of the land has said "if you force us to preserve it, we'll make damn sure no one ever gets on our land to see it!" (or words to that effect).

Hamish Mack said...

If there is no commercialism, there is no art
Also naked ladies being attacked by dogs. It's a small point but important

Substance McGravitas said...

Yeah, but where is the street level retail and subway access for foot traffic?

I'm in favour of destroying Serra's work where necessary.

ckc (not kc) said...

"The viewer becomes aware of himself and of his movement through the plaza. As he moves, the sculpture changes...."

...and as his burger cools, his discomfiture increases - but (he muses) 'at least I'm not wandering in a farm field just north of Toronto.'