For the past three weeks my Castleton State College Intro to studio class has been working on projects inspired by Andy Goldsworthy. There is so much color
and texture visible and accessible in nature now, in this time of ripeness and transition. Today we did our final project in the rain, building a human sized nest. I would love to continue with it, but there is too much else to be done in an intro to studio class!
The nest is pretty ramshackle, much like the nest of a rose breasted grosbeak. The next step would be to experiment with lining materials- asters and goldenrod, rainbow leaves, straw, cat tails. Weaving strands of rope and debris into it would be cool as well.
I'm pleased and amazed at how responsive the class was to this project. Their work was fabulous.
This work seems ever so important to me as an exercise in seeing the world differently. Looking at precisely the same thing as one sees everyday, but putting it into a new context. Creating new relationships.
Goldsworthy is a genius.
Einstein said that creativity is more important than knowledge.
Now back to pencil, paper, ink charcoal, and soon paint.
