Blog Assignment #1

Public Art
Agnes Danes/ Wheatfield


"The power of the paradox" is a commanding statement about Agnes Danes' Wheatfield project. Obviously associated to the Idea that taking the time and money to plant a wheat field In New York City Is a paradox, the statement also hints at a much larger paradox. She correlates the wheat field to human life. Our simple need to live, breath, grow, and eat is all present in the wheat field. She even connects it to our memories of childhood summer days and the deeply rooted ideals of the American dream while comparing it to the big, bustling, money driven city of New York. the real paradox is that the roots of humanity are missing from this esteemed center. Agnes Denes' writing style is extremely descriptive and organized. The way she describes her process at the beginning and then leads into how her process lends itself to her concept made the discussion effective. One of her successes, I think, was her ability to include such a cohesive concept with a heavy statement; planting a wheat field In the middle of New York City. If she had failed to tie in her own feelings about wheat as a statement with the field as the object, the entire project would not have sounded cohesive. This is a challenge that I find when writing about my own work. I consciously make certain decisions, like Danes made the decision to use wheat verses corn In New York verses Chicago, but I then have a hard time articulating where those decisions come from. I am also similar to Danes In the sense that for the most part I enjoy projects that make a statement. Although there is much to be admired In work that only has aesthetic value, I'm drawn toward works that have a concept that goes beyond visual elements. I aspire for that In my work as well. The elements that Agnes Danes included, such the color of the wheat and why she choose it, the location of the project, and the time she put into it, were all essential to the read of the project. It's very necessary for the viewers to understand the reasons behind those choices that she made. It allows for more reflection and understanding of want statement she Is really trying to make; that time Is money and money rules. This is enhanced by her description of the amount of time she and her assistants spent cultivating the field. The idea is also driven home by the fact that she choose New York City over any other city. New York is the center of commerce In the United States. Also, her description of wheat being connected to the American way of life and It’s ability to evoke emotion In the American people really helps to connect the viewer to the piece and the wheat as the object of the statement.