Andy Goldsworthy Inspires Us All

Various sculptures created by artist Andy Goldsworthy

Most of us will never have the chance to see Andy Goldsworthy’s art in person. But not because it’s displayed in an exclusive gallery on the other side of the earth with a fancy admission price. Most of us won’t see Andy Goldsworthy’s artwork because it is meant to melt, fall down in the wind, get swept away by a high tide, or disappear under a blanket of snow. Goldsworthy, originally from England, creates gorgeous sculptures using materials he finds in nature. Some involve icicles precariously balanced on each other to create an impossibly fragile spiral. Others feature various colored leaves arranged under a tree trunk, forming a mesmerizing explosion of color. Goldsworthy has used rocks, sticks, mud, pinecones, thorns and flowers as his materials, stacked or arranged in a way that forces the viewer to consider not only weight, balance and symmetry but also the ways in which nature can be incredibly simple yet complex; fiercely strong yet terribly fragile.

We drew so much inspiration from Goldsworthy’s artwork in our most recent Nature Links class. After viewing and discussing his work we talked about the materials we can find in and around our homes that could become materials for a sculpture. The Andy Goldsworthy challenge was then launched! Each participant was tasked with creating a design, sculpture or mandala from unexpected objects. We shared photos with each other and had lots of fun guessing which materials each artist had used.

Viewing art doesn’t have to be an exclusive or disheartening experience. Great art should include us all; in conversation and in process. The very best art compels us all to grab what’s around us and get creative.

I hope you enjoy checking out the Andy Goldsworthy-inspired art that Nature Links participants created recently…