Zig-Zag Line

David LaPlantz, Zig-Zag Line, 1981, tinted and engraved aluminum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1982.12.2
Copied David LaPlantz, Zig-Zag Line, 1981, tinted and engraved aluminum, 2 in. (5.1 cm.) wide, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1982.12.2

Artwork Details

Title
Zig-Zag Line
Date
1981
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
2 in. (5.1 cm.) wide
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
tinted and engraved aluminum
Classifications
Object Number
1982.12.2

Artwork Description

David LaPlantz works very quickly and rarely puts anything down on paper before heading to the workshop. In Zig-Zag Line, he tinted two pieces of aluminum with different colors, then joined them together using tiny rivets. The engraved lines on the surface of the metal resemble stitches, as if the pieces are held together by thread. This pattern, together with the wavy edges, evokes appliquéd fabric, transforming the cold, rigid metal into something that appears much easier to manipulate.