--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember when I went to a gallery in…" description: "\"I remember when I went to a gallery in Paris at one point, they had drawings of earthworks set in different places. I asked the person sitting at the g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/virginia-dwan-29141_different_i-remember-when-i-went-to-a-gallery-in-p_746725.jpg" --- # I remember when I went to a gallery in Paris at one point… ![“I remember when I went to a gallery in Paris at one point, they had drawings of earthworks set in different places. I asked the person sitting at the gallery desk where these works were - where in France they could be found. She looked at me in horror as if I'd asked something completely insane…” quote by Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/virginia-dwan-29141_different_i-remember-when-i-went-to-a-gallery-in-p_746725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/virginia-dwan-29141_different_i-remember-when-i-went-to-a-gallery-in-p_746725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/virginia-dwan-29141_different_i-remember-when-i-went-to-a-gallery-in-p_746725.jpg) > “I remember when I went to a gallery in Paris at one point, they had drawings of earthworks set in different places. I asked the person sitting at the gallery desk where these works were - where in France they could be found. She looked at me in horror as if I'd asked something completely insane. She said, "Well, of course, these works don't actually exist. They're concepts."” [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker discovers that the displayed earthwork drawings are not real locations but conceptual ideas, highlighting the tension between imagination and physical reality in art. **In simple terms:** The art pieces are concepts, not real places. Key Takeaway Recognize that ideas can exist without physical form. Themes art perception reality conceptualism Mood curiosity confusion intrigue Type reflective analytical When to use this quote - gallery visits - art education - creative brainstorming - curatorial practice Key Concepts conceptual art imagined geography artist intent Questions to Reflect On - How do we value ideas that cannot be physically experienced? - What role does imagination play in shaping artistic meaning? A Different Perspective Conceptual works may be dismissed as impractical, limiting public engagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-place/) [Different places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-places/) [Drawings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawings/) [Drawings Earthworks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawings-earthworks-5817819/) [Earthworks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthworks-1554272/) [Earthworks Set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthworks-set-5817820/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Insane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insane/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember when](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-when/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't know Michael Heizer until I was preparing for my "Earthworks" show in 1968, and somebody called and told me to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-didn-t-know-michael-heizer-until-i-was-preparing-for-my-earthworks/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [To me, Bill's musical heart is in Earthworks, in the jazz they are playing, in the acoustic kit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fripp/to-me-bill-s-musical-heart-is-in-earthworks-in-the-jazz-they-are/) [Robert Fripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fripp/) > [We could do something set in the 21st century, where I travel around to lots of different places and we talk to different ethnicities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/we-could-do-something-set-in-the-21st-century-where-i-travel-around/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [By speech first, but far more by writing, man has been able to put something of himself beyond death. In tradition and in books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/by-speech-first-but-far-more-by-writing-man-has-been-able-to-put/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [“When the time is ripe for certain things, these things appear in different places in the manner of violets coming to light in early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farkas-bolyai/when-the-time-is-ripe-for-certain-things-these-things-appear-in/) [Farkas Bolyai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farkas-bolyai/) > [I saw the excitement, going to different places, being able to explore emotion in a healthy way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-saw-the-excitement-going-to-different-places-being-able-to-explore/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [I'm interested in going places that I haven't been. 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I'll be reading two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-banisadr/as-i-work-day-after-day-inspirations-from-different-places-go-into/) [Ali Banisadr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-banisadr/) > [The most difficult part for me is feeling connected to the people that I love but always being on the go to different places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/the-most-difficult-part-for-me-is-feeling-connected-to-the-people/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) ## More by Virginia Dwan > [I opened with Edward Kienholz's The Beanery, and that's such a controversial piece that I think that brought people right away. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-opened-with-edward-kienholz-s-the-beanery-and-that-s-such-a/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [Quite honestly, even as a woman dealer, I really wasn't interested in masculinity or femininity as such. What was important to me was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/quite-honestly-even-as-a-woman-dealer-i-really-wasn-t-interested-in/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I think that Walter De Maria's Lightning Field, Michael Heizer's City, and Charles Ross's work in Star Axis New Mexico , all three will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-think-that-walter-de-maria-s-lightning-field-michael-heizer-s-city/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [The gallery closed its doors in 1971. I could no longer psychologically handle the needs of 12 artists. I cared about all of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/the-gallery-closed-its-doors-in-1971-i-could-no-longer/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [What's happening in the larger world always influences art. When I first started the gallery in 1959, one of the first things I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/what-s-happening-in-the-larger-world-always-influences-art-when-i/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I think the four land artists I showed all worked within a few years of each other. And they were standard bearers, I suppose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-think-the-four-land-artists-i-showed-all-worked-within-a-few-years/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [Art wasn't for selling. Actually, we once did have an offer on Double Negative. Things could be sold actually - everything could be for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/art-wasn-t-for-selling-actually-we-once-did-have-an-offer-on-double/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I think Michael Heizer and Walter De Maria had a love-hate relationship because they both had a lot in common. But inevitably one would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-think-michael-heizer-and-walter-de-maria-had-a-love-hate/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I didn't know Michael Heizer until I was preparing for my "Earthworks" show in 1968, and somebody called and told me to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-didn-t-know-michael-heizer-until-i-was-preparing-for-my-earthworks/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I remember very vividly. I was here in New York. Nancy Holt called me and - I feel unhappy thinking about it - she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-remember-very-vividly-i-was-here-in-new-york-nancy-holt-called-me/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [Making the effort is quite a pleasure in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/making-the-effort-is-quite-a-pleasure-in-itself/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [People should go to the works and experience them. Because just having an idea or picture in mind is absolutely not the experience that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/people-should-go-to-the-works-and-experience-them-because-just-having/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [Had opened a gallery I already had strong connections with New York, because I was taking work on consignment from New York dealers. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/had-opened-a-gallery-i-already-had-strong-connections-with-new-york/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [People tend to view land art as something that happened at a certain historical moment - like minimal art, which I was also very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/people-tend-to-view-land-art-as-something-that-happened-at-a-certain/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I enjoyed cross-country road trips. And I found the work challenging because it was art that existed on the land rather than mere concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-enjoyed-cross-country-road-trips-and-i-found-the-work-challenging/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) [Explore all 18 Virginia Dwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) ## More Concepts quotes > [Capability is just a concept of what is it we're looking at. Now how far we can go along that and what new capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/capability-is-just-a-concept-of-what-is-it-we-re-looking-at-now-how/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-do-like-talking-with-friends-about-big-concepts-you-know-the-stuff/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [For a physicist mathematics is not just a tool by means of which phenomena can be calculated, it is the main source of concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/for-a-physicist-mathematics-is-not-just-a-tool-by-means-of-which/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [All significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/all-significant-concepts-of-the-modern-theory-of-the-state-are/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) [Christy Nockels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-nockels/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. 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