Cairn With a Twist

As solid as land art is, it’s capable of absorbing an unlimited amount of meaning. Each viewer brings a unique perspective and adds a bit of their own story to the experience of the work. The memory of the work that they go away with is a blend of what they brought and what they discovered while there. The meaning of the work is modified by every viewer. Over time, with many viewings, that adds up to a hefty load of ephemeral meanings, none of which physically impact the land art. It stays the same as its meaning changes.

Dry Stone Walling, Environmental Art, Land Art, Sculpture, StoneDan SnowDecember 6, 2015art, cairn, cairn twist, cairnival, dry stone construction, featured, land art, stone cairns

Dry Stone Cairns in Norway

The previous post elicited a question from a reader about the dry stone cairn in the top photo. It’s a trail marker, one of hundreds found alongside the old routes in Norway for crossing the high country from one valley community to another. They are spaced approximately 50 meters apart to help guide those traveling in fog, snow or low light conditions. The pine poles atop them may be all that’s visible in a sea of winter white.

Dry Stone Walling, Nature, Stone, TravelDan SnowAugust 17, 2011norway, stone, stone cairns