S4 Shrimp Farm Flashcards
Where were Helen and Newton Harrison born
Helen Harrison was born in Queens, New York, and Newton Harrison was born in Brooklyn, New York
What did Helen Harrison study before pursuing her teaching career in the 1940s
English and education
Where did Newton Harrison study art
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
what year were Helen and Newton Harrison married
1953
Where did the Harrisons live from 1957-60
lived abroad in Florence, Italy
When did Helen and Newton Harrison begin their collaborative art practice
Late 1960s
which period of their marriage did Newton Harrison work as a solo artist
The first 2 decades of their marriage
what area were Helen and Newton Harrison pioneers
pioneers in establishing the activist engagement and informed interdisciplinarity of contemporary eco art
how long did the Harrisons collaborative art practice last
throughout the remainder of their careers
Made “Shrimp Farm, Survival Piece #2”
Helen & Newton Harrison
Made “Making Earth”
Helen & Newton Harrison
an early example of the Harrisons’ environmentally impactful work
Making Earth
When was “Making Earth” first performed
1970
How many times did the Harrisons recreate “Making Earth”
Many times
What did “Making Earth” consist of
The production of rich soil
Why did the Harrisons feel the need to create the work “Making Earth”
They created it after understanding that topsoil was endangered worldwide
What materials did the Harrisons use to create the rich soil in “Making Earth”
sand, clay, sewage sludge, leaf material, and chicken, cow, and horse manure
Describe the process the Harrisons followed to create the soil in “Making Earth”
gathered the materials, mixed them, watered the mixture, and repeated the process over a 4-month period until the soil had a rich, forest-floor smell and could be tasted
What did the Harrisons consider as indicators of the soil’s richness after completing the process in “Making Earth”
richness of the soil was indicated by its rich, forest-floor smell and its ability to be tasted
Made the series “Survival Pieces”
Helen & Newton Harrison
How did the Harrisons transition from private projects to engaging large audiences with their art
introduced their practice to larger audiences with a series of works titled the “Survival Pieces”
Series produced for museums between 1970 and 1972
“Survival Pieces”
the main concept behind the Harrisons’ “Survival Pieces”
a living ecosystem for a predetermined period of time
Where was “Shrimp Farm, Survival Piece #2” exhibited
“Art and Technology” exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), from May 10 to August 29, 1971
What was the context for the “Art and Technology” exhibition
To pair artists with the research and development departments of corporations in order to create collaborative work
How was the “Art and Technology” program received
The program was notoriously expensive and generally unsuccessful
how did the Harrisons’ contribution differ from the rest of the “Art and Technology” exhibition
the Harrisons’ contribution was created without corporate expertise and became notable for its success
Why is “Shrimp Farm, Survival Piece #2” considered a significant point in art history, according to scholars
It is considered a point of transition from Land art to more ecologically conscientious practices
What did “Shrimp Farm, Survival Piece #2” consist of
4 ponds of salt water and brine shrimp
Where was “Shrimp Farm, Survival Piece #2” located
outdoors on LACMA’s campus
What was the alternate title of Shrimp Farm, Survival Piece #2
Notations of the Ecosystem of the Western Salt Works with the Inclusion of Brine Shrimp
How did the Harrisons’ approach to ecological art differ from earlier Earthworks of the Land art movement
rather than using earth as material and expending large amounts of energy in altering the landscape with industrial materials
“Shrimp Farm” was made as a direct response to
Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty”
Made “Spiral Jetty”
Robert Smithson
How was the Harrisons’ “Shrimp Farm” conceived as a response to Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty”
Newton Harrison proposing the idea of introducing brine shrimp at the Spiral Jetty site to feed on the algae that caused the water to turn red
What natural phenomenon at the “Spiral Jetty” inspired Harrison’s suggestion involving brine shrimp
The reddish hue of the water, caused by the carotene produced by algae in the high-salinity water of the Great Salt Lake
What balance did Newton Harrison propose to create at “Spiral Jetty” with the introduction of brine shrimp
the brine shrimp would feed on the algae, potentially reducing the red hue, and could also be harvested at the site
Higher salt levels in the water leads to
greater red hue produced by the algae
motivated the Harrisons to create their own shrimp farm in LA
They tried to create a living ecosystem for brine shrimp since they could not convert the “Spiral Jetty” into a shrimp farm
Describe the design elements of the “Shrimp Farm” work they created for the “Art and Technology” exhibition at LACMA
The work consisted of four ponds with varying levels of salt, resulting in subtle color shifts between the ponds
What was an outcome of the Shrimp Farm project at the end of the exhibition
an actual harvest of shrimp from the ponds
Organisms that the Harrisons tried to create living ecosystems for in their “Survival” series
fish, trees, potatoes, salad greens, and worms
How did the Harrisons’ “Survival” works emphasize the interrelations among organisms and climate conditions
By creating highly specific and localized living conditions
Why did the Harrisons believe that the concept of a truly closed ecosystem was a fallacy
their “Survival” pieces were created for short-term durations (two or three months), which did not account for the complexities and interactions inherent in ecosystems
Made “The Lagoon Cycle”
Helen & Newton Harrison
What significant change in the Harrisons’ approach is noted with “The Lagoon Cycle”
The change involved shifting from short-term “Survival” pieces to a more ambitious exploration of ecosystems across the entire Pacific Rim
What crab species was used in “The Lagoon Cycle”
Crap species native to Sri Lanka
How long did “The Lagoon Cycle” project occupy the Harrisons
1972-1984
What kind of environment did “The Lagoon Cycle” simulate
It simulated an indoor estuary
How did “The Lagoon Cycle” transform from its original concept
It evolved into a larger exploration of ecosystems across the Pacific Rim
WHat was the original plan for “The Lagoon Cycle”
To cultivate the Scylla serrata, or mud crab, in a closed laboratory environment
Scylla serrata is
mud crab
What were the similar goals of “The Lagoon Cycle” compared to previous “Survival” works
To produce an edible food source in controlled, replicable conditions and to study the behavior of the resulting ecosystem
How does the ecosystem in “The Lagoon Cycle” differ from previous ones regarding duration
It would not be limited to a predetermined period of time
Where were the mud crab tanks set up for “The Lagoon Cycle”
In the Harrisons’ Southern California studio
What were implemented in the mud crab tanks for “The Lagoon Cycle”
Timed lights, limited temperature fluctuation, and controlled salinity
What conditions were mimicked in the aquatic environment for “The Lagoon Cycle”
Conditions of a tropical, estuarial lagoon
Why was the duration of “The Lagoon Cycle” critical
It coincided with the monsoon season in Sri Lanka
(The Lagoon Cycle) What unexpected change did the Harrisons notice in the crabs
A change in the crabs’ behavior
How did the Harrisons attempt to simulate monsoon conditions
By decreasing salinity and increasing available food
(The Lagoon Cycle) What behavior was triggered among the crabs as a result of the changes
Mating behavior, the first known instance for this species in an artificial environment
(The Lagoon Cycle) What did the Harrisons reconsider as a result of their discovery
The type of enclosed, artificial ecosystems they had simulated to date
What new title did the Harrisons give to their work after moving out of the laboratory
The Lagoon Cycle
How many cycles are included in “The Lagoon Cycle”
7
What new methods did the Harrisons introduce for presenting their work
Narrative voices, performance, and printed matter
How is “The Lagoon Cycle” exhibited
as a series of 7 large panels incorporating text, maps, and cut photo-collage
(The Lagoon Cycle) Who are the two characters in the dialogue on the panels
A Lagoonmaker and a Witness
(The Lagoon Cycle) What do the first three panels examine
The move from indoor tanks to outdoor environments
(The Lagoon Cycle) What does the fourth panel describe
Moving the crabs to ponds cultivated in California’s Salton Sea
(The Lagoon Cycle) What proposal is introduced and reflected upon in the fifth and sixth panels
To regulate salinity, herbicide, and pesticide levels in the Salton Sea by connecting it to the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean
(The Lagoon Cycle) What does the seventh panel meditate upon
The Pacific Ring of Fire, connecting Sri Lanka to the American West Coast
2 global issue the Harrisons addressed in their work
Glacier depletion & international deforestation
What specific area in the Netherlands did the Harrisons focus on
The central ring of agricultural land
