'' The land is not the scope for the work but a part of the workplace . ”
That statement was written by artistWalter De Maria , and it subsist in thecabin notebookat his art installationThe Lightning Field . The massive work , plant on a tableland in the New Mexico desert , is comprise of 400 unsullied steel poles with pointed tips , arranged in a 1 - mile - by-1 - kilometre grid . The poles measure 2 inches in diameter , and each is set 220 feet apart from the next . The meridian of each terminal varies with the undulating earth — from about 15 feet to nearly 27 feet — so that the tops of all the poles are unwavering .
Since its windup in 1977,The Lightning Fieldis only ever occupied by six people at a time . Visiting requires making a booking and spending the night in a small cabin , which costs $ 150 to $ 250 per soul reckon on the time of yr . It ’s only open from May to October — which is during lightning time of year .
Even after you ’ve made a reservation , the exact positioning ofThe Lightning Fieldis never disclosed . alternatively , there ’s a pickup gunpoint in the town of Quemado , New Mexico where the Dia Art Foundation ( the organization that commission and maintains the work ) has an office . There , a driver picks up the schedule guest and takes them to the cabin about an hr off . Simple meals are provided , electronics are not permit , and after the mid - afternoon drop - off , visitor do n’t see anyone from the extraneous mankind again until 11 a.m. the next morning .
The Lightning Fieldis intend to be experiential art . photo are n’t allowed(and some say it ’s ratherunphotographable , anyway ) , and while camping is n’t allow either , De Maria ( along with associate Robert Fosdick and Helen Winkler ) intend for visitant to spend as much metre in the field as potential , especially during aurora and at dusk . Contrary to its name , the carving is n’t about see lightning — in fact , a strike on one of the poles only occurs around 60 clock time a twelvemonth , despite being in the high desert , some 7220 above sea level . It ’s probably for the good , as lightning is actuallydestructiveto the body of work .
For those who might be alarmed by the idea of such stark closing off , venerate not : a short - undulation radio will connect guests to the Dia Office if necessary .
Banner image : John Cliett , Dia Art Foundation // Instagram
