Andy Goldsworthy

I've been a fan of Andy Goldsworthy for a long time. I found some of his work on Tumblr, but didn't know exactly who he was until Thrasher introduced him in class. His work to me is very inspiring because I've always appreciated artists who can just make art from what surrounds them. I love that his only subject matter he uses is nature and having to do with nature. It brings attention to how important nature is not only to him, but to anyone who finds his work. I really like the shapes he chooses to construct. Sometimes they're circles, almost portal-like in nature. Other times they take on a more organic "squiggly" shape. It's like they don't necessarily have to make up a complex picture to be interesting, the true beauty in the work is how delicate and whimsical these abstract sculptures are.

I also appreciate how much time and effort he puts into his craft. I would've given up way earlier if any of my pieces fell apart during construction. Especially when they can be so delicate one slight breeze could knock it all down. Watching him try to finish a very thin ice sculpture by placing one very small piece of ice in a tiny gap, I found myself holding my breath. His work looks so effortless, as if the forest did it itself. When he was constructing one of his "egg" sculptures out of stone, he said that "the stone is speaking". He's very in tune with the materials he uses and what they're capable of doing, so that he can get the most out of them. Not just the materials, but also the landscape as well. He spends a lot of time getting to know the land and "shaking hands" with it. I can relate to him saying he has to work to feel like himself. I know a lot of artists, myself included, who get grumpy or irritated when they haven't made art in a while. 

His understanding of balance is what makes each piece successful, both structurally and aesthetically. Goldsworthy is creating ephemeral sculptures that are in his words "pushed to the very edge". He's drawn to the flow of rivers and water and uses it in a lot of his pieces. It's interesting to think about what a person would be thinking if they happened to come across his works in the forest. There is a slight evidence of hand in his work but only enough for it to stay standing. A lot of sculptures look like the earth grew them on it's own, and in their decay they'll dissolve back into the earth. He creates these sculptures knowing full well they could completely break down at any moment, but he still wants to make his ideas to be tangible at least for that bit of time.

"good art keeps you warm."

-Avery Violet