Beauty in the Ephemeral

Posted by Krissy Ponden

Andy Goldsworthy is an artist who works with the most ubiquitous of materials to create incredible sculptures of ephemeral wonder. Using twigs, stones, icicles and even natural pigments he grinds himself, Goldsworthy creates intricate manipulations of the natural world which highlight the subtle beauty and elegance inherent in everything around us. He frequently tempts the inevitable tides of rivers by placing his fragile sculptures in the path of the water’s flow. Goldsworthy explains that it is what happens after he does his part that is the true art–the changes and evolution spurred on by the environment. The sixth graders watched Rivers and Tides, a documentary on Goldsworthy’s art and process, and marveled as carefully constructed stone towers became submerged and stick sculptures were swept into the ocean. We discussed the purpose of environmental art and Goldsworthy’s reasons for creating such short-lived masterpieces. The students then went out into Unquowa’s fields and forest and worked in small groups to create their own environmental works of art.

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