In 1960 Indiana began referring to his constructions as herms, named after the sculpted signposts of ancient Greece. The herm Ge references Gaea, the ancient Greek goddess of the Earth, and was one of two Coenties Slip sculptures that the artist specifically named after a figure from classical mythology. The other, Zeus, was later retitled Zig (1960–62). Indiana returned to mythological names with his Vinalhaven constructions, including Thoth (1985), Mars (1990), Icarus (1992), Eros (1997), Cyclops (1999), RA (2000), and Zeus/Suez (2000).
Ge was first exhibited in New Media—New Forms II, at the Martha Jacksdon Gallery, September 28–October 22, 1960. In a review largely short on praise, Indiana was singled out, the critic noting “There are several artists in this show who do have plastic concerns; one of them, Indiana, presents a thick erect plank with stenciled circles and letters, like a signal post considered aesthetically.” [1]
[1] Fairfield Porter, "Art," The Nation (October 15, 1960), p. 256.