Monday, September 13, 2010

Masterpiece Monday: Nature Art with Andy Goldsworthy

"I enjoy the freedom of just using my hands and "found" tools--a sharp stone, the quill of a feather, thorns. I take the opportunities each day offers: if it is snowing, I work with snow, at leaf-fall it will be with leaves; a blown-over tree becomes a source of twigs and branches. I stop at a place or pick up a material because I feel that there is something to be discovered. Here is where I can learn. " - Andy Goldsworthy

Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with NatureI was not familiar with the work of Andy Goldsworthy, but I was intrigued when I found this project in The Usborne First Book of Art. Andy Goldsworthy uses items he finds in nature to capture his artistic vision. After he completes a piece of artwork, he takes a photograph and leaves the art to decay.

For more information and photographs of Andy Goldsworthy's work, go here. I also interlibrary-loaned a coffee table book of his entitled Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature.

You need:
Bag
Place to hike
Pinecones, leaves, acorns, etc.

1) Find a place where you are allowed to pick up items from nature. We only picked up things that had already fallen (dried pine needles, pinecones on the road, leaves on the ground, etc.).

2) Place the items in a bag or just create artwork on-the-spot.

3) Spend time creating, building, and exploring natural items. If desired, capture the artwork through a photograph!

I love how this project encourages children to explore nature. In our fast-paced, technological world, many children are deprived of natural, sensory experiences. Access to creeks, ponds, and other "wild" places is often limited by new developments and ever-expanding cities (see Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder for an interesting look at the subject).



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4 Comments:

Blogger Stacie said...

At first, I wondered how Mr. Goldsworthy could stand leaving his works to decay after spending so much time creating them! Then, I considered how we often do the same. Ever made a snowman? Spent time decorating a cake? Often, all we have left of those creative pursuits is a photograph or two.

September 13, 2010 at 12:49 PM  
Blogger Gidget Girl Reading said...

this is awesome and I LOVE that book (well both books :) great stuff)

You ought to link up to my little masterpieces. it gives you a chance to win exploring great artist ebook of art lessons.

September 13, 2010 at 3:21 PM  
Blogger AriellaRogge said...

we love doing this activity with the kids at camp and our outdoor ed program! Very open, free, and FULL of play and imagination.

For the classroom, laminate the images from the books and then the kids can pass around, hold and bring w/ outside (for inspiration!)

Thank you for this great post and the wonderful photos.

September 14, 2010 at 8:49 AM  
Anonymous cathy @ NurtureStore said...

I love this post and this idea. We sometimes find a small fallen branch with lots of twigs on and take it with us on our walk, collecting leaves and seeds to thread onto the branches to decorate our stick tree as we go. We 'plant' our stick trees at the end of the walk for someone else to find when they pass by.
Thank you so much for linking with the Play Academy.

September 16, 2010 at 10:57 AM  

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