Beam-I (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas
- This sculpture is an interactive, public art installation. It is also an example of both minimalist and conceptual art.
- The title of the work is a reference to the steel beams that are used in construction. I-beams are used to create building frameworks and supports.
- The location of this structure allows viewers to stand on top of it and view the Museum Park from an elevated perspective.
- Maria Elena González is a Cuban-born American sculptor who creates art installations and public art. Her work is often inspired by or includes architecture. Many of her works are interactive.
Learn More
Beam-I is named for the steel building materials (called I-beams) that are structural supports in many buildings. These supports are not usually visible in the finished product, but they play an important role in a building’s stability. This art installation allows viewers to walk out onto a sturdy platform that is suspended over a wooded area. When a person does this, they interact directly with the work of art. Visitors can also use this work as an outlook from which they can view the Museum Park.
Maria Elena González is an American sculptor who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She was born in Havana two years before the Cuban Revolution. When she was 11 years old, she and her family moved to Miami. They later settled in New York. González’s work is influenced by the minimalist and conceptual art movements of the 1960s. Minimalist art is generally composed of simple geometric shapes like squares and rectangles. It focuses on the essence of the forms and the materials used. Conceptual art invites the viewer to think deeply about the ideas behind a work of art. Elements of minimalist and conceptual art can be seen in González’s interactive public art installations. Her work encourages people to take an active part in their viewing experience.
I choose materials that suggest an idea.
Maria Elena González
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read an interview with the artist to discover what influences her art.
- Review a digital exhibition catalog from Gonzalez’s 2023 exhibition.
- Read a short article about minimalism and conceptual art.
Resources for Students
- Watch a video interview with Gonzalez.
- View a photo gallery of another public art installation she created.
- Explore additional works by this artist.
Images
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Beam-I
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing. The platform juts out from a dirt path on a wooded overlook.
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Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing. The platform juts out from a dirt path on a wooded overlook.
-
Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing. The platform juts out from a dirt path on a wooded overlook.
-
Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing. The platform juts out from a dirt path on a wooded overlook.
-
Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing. The platform looks out over a wooded area.
-
Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing. The platform looks out over a wooded area.
-
Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing. The platform juts out from a dirt path on a wooded overlook.
-
Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steal platform with a railing. It just out from a hillside overlooking a wooded area.
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Beam-I by Maria Elena González
A photograph of a red steel platform with a railing up on a hillside above.