Rivers and Tides

Yesterday I watched a documentary about British environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy, called “Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time.” I think the documentary really captures the sense of process. The viewer gets to watch Goldworthy meticulously build site specific structures out of rocks, twigs, leaves, etc. Like a deck of cards, each structure if fragile and subject to factors in the environment. Sometimes,after hours of work, the piece will crumble before completion. However, a finished piece will inevitably be lost to the forces of nature as well. This, as Goldsworthy describes, is part of the art. He sees this end not as destruction, but as a continuation of the creation. What struck me as most fascinating was the dedication to time and knowledge, rather than product. Even if a piece failed, Goldsworthy said that at least he understood his material a little bit better.