The Lightning Field facts for kids

The Lightning Field is a famous art project created in 1977 by an artist named Walter De Maria. It's a special type of art called land art, which means it's built right into nature. You can find it in a quiet, open area in Catron County, New Mexico. The artwork is made up of 400 shiny stainless steel poles with pointy tops. They are set up in a huge rectangle, about 1 mile long and 1 kilometer wide, like a giant grid. The Dia Art Foundation takes care of this amazing artwork.

History of The Lightning Field

The Dia Art Foundation asked Walter De Maria to create this artwork, and they still help keep it safe today. De Maria and his helpers spent over five years looking for the perfect spot. They drove trucks all over California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Texas. Finally, they chose a remote plateau in New Mexico. This spot is about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) east of the Continental Divide of the Americas. It sits high up, about 7,200 feet (2,195 meters) above sea level. The nearest town is about 40 miles (64 km) away, making it a very peaceful place.

What are the Poles Like?

The artwork has 400 stainless steel poles. They are arranged in a grid that is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) wide. Each pole is placed 220 feet (67 meters) away from the next one. The land here is not perfectly flat, so the poles are different heights. The shortest pole is 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall, and the longest is 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 meters) tall. This makes sure that the tops of all the poles are at the same level, creating a flat "plane" above the ground. Each pole is two inches (5 cm) wide. They are set into concrete bases that are three feet (0.9 meters) deep. These strong bases help the poles stand firm, even in winds up to 110 miles (177 km) per hour.

Lightning and the Artwork

Even though the artwork is called "The Lightning Field," it doesn't get struck by lightning very often. The name and the design might make you think it does, but it's actually quite rare.

Keeping the Artwork Safe

It takes a lot of work to keep "The Lightning Field" in good shape. Money for its care comes from different groups, including the Ray A. Graham III and Lannan Foundation. The Dia Art Foundation's Board of Trustees and others have also helped protect the grasslands around the artwork. In 2012, the whole structure needed some repairs. Famous art dealer Larry Gagosian and fashion designer Miuccia Prada helped raise money for the restoration. The repairs started in 2013, and the artwork was reopened to visitors in June of that year.

The Lightning Field in Books and Articles

"The Lightning Field" has been featured in many books and articles. A photo of it was even on the cover of Robert Hughes's 1997 book, American Visions: The Epic History of Art in America. The artwork also played a role in the novel Blinded by the Light by Morgan Hunt. Some people think it might have inspired parts of Cormac McCarthy's book Blood Meridian.

In 2011, a writer named Geoff Dyer wrote an article about it for The New Yorker magazine, called Poles Apart. Another writer, David Ulin, talked about how visiting the artwork is like a story that slowly unfolds inside you. "The Lightning Field" also inspired a music piece by composer John Mackey, which he also named "The Lightning Field." In 2017, an essay by Jason Rosenfeld in The Brooklyn Rail celebrated the artwork's fortieth anniversary.

Visiting The Lightning Field

You can visit "The Lightning Field" for six months each year. To see it, you need to make a reservation in advance for an overnight stay. Visitors meet in Quemado, New Mexico and then take a long drive to a simple log cabin near the artwork. The artist wanted people to experience the artwork alone or with a very small group. So, the cabin was fixed up to hold no more than six people. It has two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a common room. When you visit, remember that camping and taking photos are not allowed.

See also

In Spanish: The Lightning Field para niños