Red Tide 1971

Laddie John Dill created this installation, *Red Tide,* with neon and sand. Imagine Dill there, thinking about the color, thinking about the form, and thinking about light. Looking at this piece I'm thinking about how the artist has created an immersive environment. The gallery becomes an installation where the architecture, neon, and sand become integral. How cool is that? I love the dialogue between the natural and the artificial: sand meeting neon. Dill's art draws on Minimalism, Light and Space, and Land Art, movements that encourage a deep reflection on the environment. I'm thinking about Robert Irwin, and James Turrell here. The pink and red of the neon against the weathered brick and the earthy textures of the sand—wow! Ultimately, these artists are all in conversation, working through process, and pushing the boundaries of what art can be.