Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

a short undulating stucco wall with two round metal grates incorporated into the structure built on a lush lake shoreline

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Photograph: Brian Fitzsimmons, 2014

Nancy Holt, Time Span [detail] (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

a circular metal grate frames a building across a body of water

Nancy Holt, Time Span [detail] (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span [detail] (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

a metal grate in the shape of a half circle that is built into a small stucco wall, right above gravel

Nancy Holt, Time Span [detail] (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

person stands next to a short undulating stucco wall with two round metal grates incorporated into the structure built on a lush lake shoreline

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span [detail] (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span [detail] (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

a chain extends over a body of water toward a small stucco wall

Nancy Holt, Time Span (1981)⁠

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Nancy Holt with Time Span (1981) at Laguna Gloria in Austin, TX in 1988.

a person stands behind a circular metal grate that frames their face

Nancy Holt with Time Span (1981) at Laguna Gloria in Austin, TX in 1988.

Nancy Holt working on placement of the metal plaque in the ground that marks the completion of Time Span at 2pm on April 5, 1981.

person kneels down in the shadow behind a short wall with tools in their hands

Nancy Holt working on placement of the metal plaque in the ground that marks the completion of Time Span at 2pm on April 5, 1981.

1981—1983

Time Span

Nancy Holt

1981

The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Texas⁠

Concrete, stucco, steel⁠

Overall dimensions: H: 7 ft. (2.1 m); W: 11 ft. (2.4 m); L: 50 ft. (15.2 m); Wheel: 4 ft. (1.2 m) diameter⁠

Collection: The Contemporary Austin

Overlooking Lake Austin on The Contemporary Austin's Laguna Gloria campus, Time Span is anchored in earth, water, and sky. Chains connect the sculpture to steel poles standing in the lake, while the stucco-and-concrete base is rooted in the grassy peninsula. The sun shines through rounded steel bars at the top and bottom of the sculpture, casting various shadows across the landscape. On April 5th, the artist’s birthday, the shadows encircle a plaque on the ground that details the work’s completion—which also occurred on April 5th, 1981. While Holt often designed sculptures to highlight historical dates,Time Span marks her own life as it traverses from celebration to memorial.

Time Span

See Also