8 Blocks and Stones

8 Blocks and Stones was originally part of the much larger installation 144 Blocks and Stones created by Carl Andre in 1973 at the Portland Center for the Visual Arts. For this work, Andre combined prefabricated cement paving blocks with smooth river stones that he collected around the Portland area. Each block and stone pair was then arranged into eight rows of eighteen, separated by three-foot intervals. This grid-like arrangement, along with the placement of the work directly on the floor, are typical characteristics of Minimalist works which sought to create a more integrated viewing experience.