Nationality
American
Artist Dates
1930-2010
Preview
Date of Work
June, 1977
Medium
35mm color slide
Collection/Provenance
Art & Design Study Collection, James Smith Pierce Collection
Status
Stored: JSPX-CN-001
Location
UND Art Collections Repository
Artist Bio
Born in Brooklyn, New York, James Smith Pierce received his PhD in art history from Harvard University. During his career as a professor, Pierce also became an accomplished artist, whose artworks were included in important exhibitions (including a show on land art at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC) and books on contemporary earthworks and site-specific sculpture. Pierce was also a photographer, exhibition curator, and art collector.
Additional Information
James Smith Pierce purchased a 17-acre plot of land east of the the Kennebec River in Clinton, Maine. He spent the next 15 years crafting 20 distinct pieces of land art on what was called Pratt Farm, or, as Pierce called it, a “garden of history.” His work on Pratt Farm spanned millennia by blending earthworks with local and foreign history.
The images in this collection document the progress and completion of the Motte. The Motte was inspired by Norman defense tactics through the use of motte-and-bailey castles. A keep would usually be built atop a raised mound of earth called a motte.
Images are provided for educational purposes only. © University of North Dakota. All rights reserved.
Condition
Excellent
Condition Notes
Original slide in excellent condition. Digitally preserved 2019.
Rights
Images and film are provided for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced in any form without written consent. ©University of North Dakota. All rights reserved.