Georgia Stele

Jesús Moroles, Georgia Stele, 1999, Georgia gray granite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1999.25
Copied Jesús Moroles, Georgia Stele, 1999, Georgia gray granite, 82 x 12 1⁄4 x 8 in. (208.3 x 31.1 x 20.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1999.25

Artwork Details

Title
Georgia Stele
Artist
Date
1999
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
82 x 12 1⁄4 x 8 in. (208.3 x 31.1 x 20.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
Georgia gray granite
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
Object Number
1999.25

Artwork Description

In April 1999, Jesús Moroles brought the unfinished Georgia Stele to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. He uncovered the sculpture and began to hammer stone chips off of the top, encouraging visitors to join in. Moroles then removed a few more and declared the piece finished, stating that if another chip were removed the sculpture would be a total loss and could never be repaired. This unexpected performance demonstrated Moroles's belief that sculptures are sacred objects that should belong to all people, and not just the artist or a museum. Nevertheless, he claimed creative ownership over the work by declaring that the work was done and could no longer be altered.

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Exhibitions

Media - 2011.12 - SAAM-2011.12_1 - 77591
Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art
October 25, 2013–March 2, 2014
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art presents the rich and varied contributions of Latino artists in the United States since the mid-twentieth century, when the concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge.