by Goldsworthy: Rivers & Tides
I’ve just finished viewing the DVD Andy Goldsworthy: Rivers and Tides. Wow! It is very beautiful, very inspiring and I want to view it over and over again. I’ve admired Andy Goldsworthy’s work in books, magazines and online but have never seen it in real life. This film captures that feeling of being there and seeing how the artist creates from materials in nature, often allowing the creations to be destroyed and returned to nature. Viewing the ephemeral seems to arouse a spiritual response in the artist as well as in this viewer.
I know this film has been out for several years, but by fluke I came across it in the library and hope to renew it and watch it a few more times, especially the extras. It is gorgeously filmed by Thomas Riedelsheimer with the support of YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (surprise!) and other film production companies. I suggest a search on the web for images of his work if interested. The above one that I’ve captured is somewhat similar to one in the film, and which I really like because it reminds me of a petroglyph. If you haven’t seen Rivers and Tides, I highly recommend it!
November 6, 2006 in Films, Other artists by Marja-Leena
Until I followed your link I thought the image was scratched onto the rock. Magical! and even more transient than usual.
One of my very favorite films on art – I was transfixed all the way through, and blogged about it – it was a few years ago though! So glad you got to see it.
Oh just buy the video (which I did). It’s one those you are always going back to watch. Perfect for a rainy day.
Thanks All for the feedback! Yes, I’m tempted to purchase the film for myself, or put it on my wish list.
Oh! I really like his work. I have the DVD. I’m so glad you discovered this!
MB, how wonderful that you like Goldswothy’s work and have the DVD. I’m not surprised because your photos of nature relate.
I just put this DVD on hold at my library (I can do it online). I love his books. Didn’t know there was a film. Thanks!
Hi Gordon! Glad this was of interest! I love the library online service here, too. Must look for some of his books as well.
returning to see the images change on the opening page of your site. and goldsworthy…have seen the film twice. though i like to believe that there is beauty in urban space–natural and man-made–it does not get celebrated as well.
Marja-leena: Yay – I found that my library has Andy Goldsworthy’s dvd – so I’ve put it on hold. I can’t wait to watch it! I love ‘environmental art’ like Goldsworthy’s. Being a nature girl, I have always been inspired by the natural world. Even living in a more urban setting (than the one I grew up in , one does’nt have to go far to experience nature.
Naomi, you have made a good point about urban spaces. Some is beautiful if it has life, green spaces, but some is pretty sterile, dirty and sad. Maybe the wilder spaces are appreciated more because so many people do live in dense urban spaces, and its green spaces are after all fairly controlled and tame.
Jackie, that’s great! Seattle, like Vancouver, is located by some pretty spectacular nature, eh.
It’s a fascinating film, I’d like to own it. Have you ever tried to make natural sculptures “in the wild”? I have some spirals of round stones in the garden, but that’s as far as I’ve got. Pretty derivative.
Hi Anna! No, I’ve not tried it though I think of it sometimes. I did once wash down an interesting shaped rock that I dug up in the garden and stood it up, thinking I’d paint on a pictograph. I must do it. If it were bigger I’d love to try a rainshadow like the one above.