Contemporary Art continuously pushes its own boundaries to include things that some, even many would label "not art." I spend time in the art world, so I'm very likely to be excited with the expanded boundaries of art.
The Center for Land Use Interpretation, CLUI, is an example. They study, document, and make new art about the things we build, primarily in the Western states, often now abandoned.
CLUI is "dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge about how the nation's lands are apportioned, utilized, and perceived," that's an abstract mission statement!
Their main office is in LA.
This CLUI field office is a small part of a sprawling decaying military base from WWII. In fact, the airplane which carried the first atomic bomb to Japan was based and trained here in secrecy.
A friend of mine was an artist in residence here, placing it on my radar. He is an art professor and has made art work about Oregon's abandoned ghost towns. He is famous for the film "The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal," set in Portland, and narrated by Miranda July.
So I arranged a cross country trip to visit for several hours and take advantage of inexpensive lodging and food in Wendover.
The Orientation Building and Gallery are primarily self serve. The Orientation Building has photographs and maps about the history of the base and surrounding lands. The Gallery Building has rooms with art installations by artists in residence. There is a primitive radio tower built by artist Deborah Stratman. She is famous for making the very risky documentary "Kings of the Sky."
Wendover is on the Western edge of the Great Salt Flat, the Eastern edge is Salt Lake City. One artist used that salt to encrust objects with salt crystals. I doubt anyone would argue that's not art.
The entire base is photogenic in a falling down way - perfect for photoshoots!
Wendover itself is divided by the Nevada-Utah border. The Utah side appears to be a Western town in decline. The Nevada side has casino hotels which fill to capacity every weekend, with more bring built.
So the twin towns of Wendover are a perfect example of the difference a survey line can make in how we use land. If CLUI can use art to think about that, I'm all for it!
I have visited the Spiral Jetty. The partner of that artist made Sun Tunnels which can be accessed out of Wendover. Both are via remote gravel roads without wireless coverage. I'll save that for the next trip!
This would be a great place to visit for children 9 on up, including aspiring photographers/moviemakers. The town is a good midpoint for traveling between Denver via I70, Green River, Salt Lake City, and Crater Lake or Alvord Hot Springs, Kam Wah Chung and the Columbia Gorge or Timberline Lodge in Oregon. read more
