THE LEMAY ISLAND REMOTE LOCATION PROJECT, 2002 - 2010

Lemay Island, Utah, USA, 2003 - 2010

Center for Land Use Interpretation (CLUI), Los Angeles
Curated by Matthew Coolidge

The Lemay Island Remote Location was purchased by Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt in 1969. The 40-acre stretch of land is 42 miles away from any kind of infrastructural facilities. A 35-mile bumpy track takes you there, the last 12 miles of which must be found with the help of a GPS navigation system. The light installation illuminates the surrounding countryside 24 hours, seven days a week. It consists of an LED spot light, two 24 volt batteries, a wind generator and two solar modules in a format of 100 x 65 cm. The solar modules serve to generate electricity and, at the same time, as a “panel painting” that reflects the surrounding countryside: the Newfoundland Evaporation Basin and the Silver Mountains. The viewer sees him/herself mirrored against the plain of the salt flats. The solar modules have been installed very high up and horizontally. A wind turbine generates additional electricity. Sun and wind energy thus complement each other in the cycles of day/night and summer/winter. The brightness within this corridor of light corresponds to the light intensity of a full moon night. The countryside outside of this corridor remains unlit. There are thus no limitations for observing the starry sky and the Milky Way.