The Art of Andy Goldsworthy Nature and Art

The Art of Andy Goldsworthy Nature and Art

Who is Any Goldsworthy • British Artist • Collaborates with nature • Documents the artwork in photographs before they disappear

Life of Andy Goldsworthy • Date of Birth: July 26, 1956 • Son of a professor, but lived and worked on a farm most of his life • In his art work, Andy Goldsworthy links his work on farms to being a sculptor because the patterns mimic the repetitive actions of both farm work and art • Andy has four children and lives in Southwest Scotland

Andy Goldsworthy’s Process • Andy uses a variety of natural objects to create his art: – – – – Stone Leaves Water Twigs Ice Mud Snow Thorns • He often uses only his own hands, teeth, and makeshift tools to work with the natural objects – He says he likes working naturally with natural objects

Why does Andy Goldsworthy Use Photography? • Andy Goldsworthy’s art is always changing because it is made of nature • He likes to capture the pieces as it – Grows – Decays – Moves – Melts • Goldsworthy’s photographs capture how the work is always in process, just like life.

Inspiration • Goldsworthy’s art is environmental • Goldsworthy is influenced by historical artists and contemporary artists • Richard Long (British sculptor and land artist), Robert Smithson (American sculptor and land artist), Constantin Brancusi (Romanian artist), David Nash (British Sculptor), Joseph Beuys (German artist) and Ben Nicholson (British painter)

Materials • Goldsworthy uses a variety of materials from nature. • This is an example of a wet branch covered in yellow aspen leaves

• Ice often makes it into Goldsworthy’s art. He doesn’t use anything but his hands, teeth and sometimes his own saliva to make sure the pieces stays intact for a photo • As the day progresses, the art melts back into the earth

• Folding leaves into each other to create this horn must have taken Goldsworthy hours. Because of the delicate nature of his materials, the artist frequently has to restart projects when something tears, breaks, or comes a part.

• This simple piece is just Andy Goldsworthy laying on rock, as the rain/snow falls. Goldsworthy gets up and you see the surface beneath him is dry, which creates an “imprint”. As the surface dries around him, his image disappears.

• Andy Goldsworthy does not use man made materials to put his pieces together. In this pieces it’s sticks and a reflection that create the WHOLE piece.

Why Andy Goldsworthy is Important • Goldsworthy is an important modern artist that has influenced others to pay attention to the concepts of earth and environmental art. He uses minimal materials that has the least amount effect on the earth. • Although most of his pieces will only be remembered through photography, it is a reminder to the viewer that time is concept rarely showcased and captured in art

• “Ideas must be put to the test. That's why we make things, otherwise they would be no more than ideas. There is often a huge difference between an idea and its realization. I've had what I thought were great ideas that just didn't work. ” Andy Goldsworthy