Salt lick art

A salt lick looks beautiful after cows lick it many times. Here's a link to an art show auction of salt licks, with cash prizes for the best salt licks. All proceeds will go to the Parkinson Center of Oregon at OSHU. Link (Thanks, Garth!)

[#1 posted by Teresa Nielsen Hayden/Moderator , September 27, 2007 5:48 PM]

It meets the basic tests for art: It's unique, intentional, useless, and an article of commerce.

[#2 posted by Ethan , September 27, 2007 6:56 PM]

Hmm... I don't see the intentionality unless you think the cows care about the aesthetic.

[#3 posted by grow-a-brain , September 27, 2007 9:43 PM]

Amazing find, Mark!

[#4 posted by Teresa Nielsen Hayden/Moderator , September 27, 2007 10:06 PM]

Selection and display on the part of whoever put the show together.

[#5 posted by Michael Zed , September 28, 2007 10:20 AM]

This may be inspired by the works of artist Doug Lewis, who has been using various techniques to make sculptural work from salt licks for several years.

There was a short video interview about his work on Zed TV: Quicktime , Better-quality FLV.

[#6 posted by Michael Zed , September 28, 2007 10:31 AM]

Oh, yeah, and artist Elvira Finnigan has been working with salt as well. Her work is at saltwatch.ca.