Spiral Jetty

Does Spiral Jetty make the Great Salt Lake a Museum?

No. In Susan M. Pearce’s book, Museums, Objects and Collection: A Cultural Study, “a museum is an institution which collects, document, preserves, exhibits and interprets material evidence and associated information for the public benefit”(Pearce, page 2). Spiral Jetty is, more or less, a point of interest for public viewing, much like the clock tower on Bryan Hall at Washington State University. Both things are human made but neither make its location a museum. If one could move Spiral Jetty to a location in a building, or area, outside its original location the building might be considered a museum. One could take pictures of Spiral Jetty and display the photos in an art gallery, or even a museum of art. Utah could name the site as a point of interest. I think it would be interesting to see the changes made naturally by the salt water and weather over a period of time. In this case, someone would take photos of the work of art over time. If Spiral Jetty were to be maintained or altered in anyway the artist should be notified. If the artist is deceased, only by private donation and the vote of locate officials should there be any changes made to the art piece. Again, Spiral Jetty could be listed as a point of interest so people all around can see its beauty, and also to protect it from destruction or alterations of any kind. Once more, Spiral Jetty does not make Salt Lake a museum.