EarthworksJames Brunt and Andy Goldsworthy

Earthworks:

Earth art, also referred to as Land art or Earthworks, is largely an American movement that uses the natural landscape to create site-specific structures, art forms, and sculptures.

These sculptures exist “in the elements” and change over time from natural weathering and human interaction. Photography of Earthworks is just as important as the actual sculpture. Capturing the sculpture at different times, it will look different as is slowly erodes away.

James Brunt

• James Brunt creates elaborate artworks using the natural materials he finds in forests, parks, and beaches near his home in Yorkshire, England. This form of Earthworks involves detailed patterns, textures, and shapes formed using multiples of one kind of material. Brunt collects twigs, rocks, and leaves and arranges them in mandala-like spirals and concentric circles. He photographs his finished work to document it before nature once again takes hold of his materials.

Mandalas:

• Concentric Designs using RADIAL SYMMETRY (design principle: balance)

• Sanskrit for “circle”

• Originally used in Buddhist and Hindu cultures for spiritual relaxation

Andy Goldsworthy

• Andy Goldsworthy British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist who produces site-specific sculptures and land art situated in natural and urban settings. He lives and works in Scotland.

Your Assignment:• GO OUTSIDE

• Collect “nature specimens”: leaves, twigs, rocks, flowers, pinecones, pine needles, seeds, feathers (if you’re lucky) etc.

• Create an Earth Work Sculpture somewhere interesting.

• Be inspired by a principle of design: • Balance (radial/mandala, bi-lateral, asymmetrical)• Movement• Unity• Pattern

• Photograph it.

• Wait. Come back and photograph it again in a few days… has it changed?