Embedded Files
Nature is making art for us all the time!
Nature is making art for us all the time!
And the art is continuously changing! It’s just that we don’t always stop to recognize it. Take this sunrise for instance…a mesmerizing beauty in motion, slowly unpeeling the night to reveal this new day. Just 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after I snapped this photo, the sky, water and land looked very different. And what if I hadn’t woken up that morning in time to see it? I might not have believed in the power of that new day. The funny thing is, whether we realize it or not, we are part of the art too! That sun was shining on me, gradually warming up and changing the color of my skin and clothes. I could feel my heart filling with awe and gratitude. And wasn’t I slowly waking up too, along with the rest of the plant and animal kingdom?
So if nature is making moving art and we are part of it, why not consciously join in on the play to express our love and gratitude back to the natural world? One way to do this is by making Nature Sculptures!
So if nature is making moving art and we are part of it, why not consciously join in on the play to express our love and gratitude back to the natural world? One way to do this is by making Nature Sculptures!
My original fascination and inspiration regarding nature sculptures can be traced back to Andy Goldsworthy. Andy Goldsworthy is a famous artist who collaborates with nature to make Art. He ONLY uses natural materials. When he is finished with an art piece he takes a photo of it. Then he lets nature play with the art until it is gone. Look at some of the photos taken of Andy’s work in this video.
Andy Goldsworthy (1956) : Land art and environmental art
Andy Goldsworthy (1956) : Land art and environmental art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTnHiOA6a0E
How do you think he worked together with nature to make the sculpture? How do you imagine nature is going to play with the art?
Every nature sculpture is different because every person, place and moment in time is different, and the natural world is ever changing .
Every nature sculpture is different because every person, place and moment in time is different, and the natural world is ever changing .
Here are some examples of small nature sculptures.
(made by Ms. Schriner).
Story behind sculpture #1: This nature sculpture only took 5 minutes to make. I had no plan to make a sculpture. As I walked away from my sit spot I picked up these petals, leaves and cone and arranged them this way with a feeling of Thankfulness for nature. (Ms. Schriner)
Story behind sculpture #2 : I learned there is magic in NOT knowing what you are going to make or what materials you’ll have to make your sculpture! I spent quite a bit of time collecting lovely things from nature around my neighborhood in the morning and imagining what I might be able to make with it. Later I sat down under a tree at school in a very different location to make a sculpture. To my surprise, I did not make anything I thought about making earlier & I did not end up using anything from my collection! Instead, everything I used for this sculpture came from 50 feet away! The art that nature and I created surprised me and the materials were all local! Maybe that’s what the Earth wanted… an expression of that particular place where I was sitting, at that particular time. It felt magical. So if you don’t have time to gather things, just show up at a place. Look, listen and feel. Soon you & nature will know what to do. And you’ll feel the magic of that Place in your nature sculpture. Maybe you'll leave, as I did, with a GROW in PLACE feeling. (Ms. Schriner)
Story behind sculpture #3 : I wasn’t sure how to begin. These brilliant golden stalks of overgrown rainbow chard led the way. Once I figure out a shape I liked, I began filling it in with other materials I had gathered. New ideas came to me each time I added something new. If you don’t know how to start your sculpture, let 1 of your natural materials lead the way. (Ms. Schriner)
If you’ve never made a nature sculpture before, here are some suggested guidelines……
If you’ve never made a nature sculpture before, here are some suggested guidelines……
Step 1: Gathering natural materials.
Step 1: Gathering natural materials.
Walk around your neighborhood or park. Gather objects in nature that you would like to build with (sticks, stones, leaves, flower petals, flowers, pine cones, seeds, berries, stones, etc) …anything in nature that catches your eye and heart.
Walk around your neighborhood or park. Gather objects in nature that you would like to build with (sticks, stones, leaves, flower petals, flowers, pine cones, seeds, berries, stones, etc) …anything in nature that catches your eye and heart.
Tip: Follow your family’s guidance regarding what and where it is ok to gather natural materials.
Caution: It’s best to use things that are already on the ground. If you feel you need to pick a leaf or flower, ask first, and make sure that you just take some (not most or all) of what’s there. Always thank the plant or place from which you've gathered!
Step 2 : Find a spot to build your sculpture. Create with Nature.
Step 2 : Find a spot to build your sculpture. Create with Nature.
Step 3: If possible, Take a picture of it when you are finished.
Step 3: If possible, Take a picture of it when you are finished.
Step 4: Thank the Earth for your time together. Leave the sculpture behind as a gift so nature to continue playing with it.
Step 4: Thank the Earth for your time together. Leave the sculpture behind as a gift so nature to continue playing with it.
Step 5: Return to the same place 1 week later to see how nature played with the sculpture when you were gone.
Step 5: Return to the same place 1 week later to see how nature played with the sculpture when you were gone.
Repeat as many times as you wish!
Here are some examples of bigger nature sculptures made by a whole community of people.
Here are some examples of bigger nature sculptures made by a whole community of people.
(The Sculptures below were created by Room K at Cleveland Elementary School in Oakland, CA over the past several years).
The Nest 2013
The Snake (Shedding the old, growing into the new) 2014
Lovestruck by Nature 2015
Celebrating the Growing Light (on Winter Solstice) 2016
And there is so much more inspiration out there…
Here is a great 3 minute stop-motion animated film by a good friend of mine, Day Schildkret, an artist who continually inspires me with his humble approach, artistic expression and commitment to a daily practice of nature art .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uo-_EtoeGw&feature=youtu.be
Let's Begin!
Let's Begin!
Page updated
Report abuse