Focus on Language & Typography
Global Positioning Systems
Lawrence Weiner
b.1942, New York; lives in New York and Amsterdam
A WALL BUILT TO FACE THE LAND & FACE THE WATER AT THE LEVEL OF THE SEA
Language + materials referred to
Collection Perez Art Museum Miami
Main Objective
Students will use language and typography to explore the concept of site specific artwork.
Florida Standards
English Language Arts
Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or
speaking (LAFS.3.L.1.1).
Visual Arts
Use symbols, visual language, and/or written language to document self or others (VA.3.O.3.1).
Materials
Butcher paper
Slips of paper
Pencils
Colored pencils or crayons
Ruler (optional)
Vocabulary
Site Specific Art
Site-specific art is artwork created to exist in a certain place. Typically, the artist takes the location
into account while planning and creating the artwork.
About the Artwork
Lawrence Weiner is recognized for the significant contributions he has made to the development of
conceptual artistic approaches since the 1960s. His work challenges traditional notions of the nature
of art objects, incorporating language as an integral part of the artistic medium. Weiner’s work
emphasizes careful decisions about font, color, size, and arrangement on the wall. In Weiner’s words,
“even a sentence is an object.” Particularly important to his work is the relationship that emerges
between a given statement and its surroundings once it has been installed. Though not usually
conceived with a specific site in mind, Weiner’s textual fragments will often interact with their settings,
producing new and unpredictable effects and meanings.
Opening Inquiry
Project Lawrence Weiner’s A WALL BUILT TO FACE THE LAND & FACE THE WATER AT THE
LEVEL OF THE SEA.
• Describe this work of art. What materials is the artist using? Describe the font/lettering.
• How do you explain the artist’s choice of words? The choice of media?
• Introduce the term ‘site specific art’ and explain that Lawrence Weiner originally created this to
face the water and land, at sea level, as the text suggests. Does this information change your
reading of the work?
• How would this work of art change if the font were different?
Art-Making Steps
1. Lawrence Weiner is inspired by his surroundings and in this case, the wall is located next to a
large window, overlooking the water. Divide the class into groups of three. Assign each student
in the group a part of speech, either a noun, verb or adjective.
2. Ask students to write 5-10 words using that part of speech and drawing inspiration from their
surroundings. One word per slip of paper.
3. In their groups, they will arrange their words into phrases. Note: phrases don’t need to be
complete sentences.
4. Next, give each group butcher paper and ask groups to choose 2-3 phrases to rewrite on the
large butcher paper in a way that visually expresses the words they chose. They should
consider the design of their font: such as bold, italics, upper case, lower case, bubble letters,
colors and patterns.
Closing Inquiry
Ask groups to share their final product.
• How does the setting influence the way you read these works?
• How would viewing these in a different setting change their meaning?
Assessment
Students will be assessed on a 30-point scale where each rubric is a maximum of 10 points.
1. Student composed/ laid-out words creatively. (10 pts)
2. Student generated relevant words referencing his/her surroundings. (10 pts)
3. Student worked collaboratively as part of a team to complete final product. (10 pts)