Have you come across Land Art? A few years back, I discovered a book by Andy Goldsworthy and sat for ages enjoying this delicious feast for the eyes.
The other day, I was doing the first garden tidy up of the spring and out of the corner of my eye I saw a very industrious Isabella gathering items from the garden and laying them, very intentionally, in a line on a piece of wood she had found. I so love watching her when she gets into this kind of artistic groove. Its like she is feeling each thing she is placing. It reminded me of a comment by another mosaic artist that I read the other day, about the learning she had gleaned from amazing Ilana Shafir’s ‘spontaneous mosaic’ class – that you pick up each piece and connect with it to feel where it should be placed. I guess children are much closer to this instinct and connection between the physical and ethereal – they don’t need to go to a class to unlearn and relearn these things.
It also reminded me of a great interview I read on The Artful Parent about fellow Brit, Richard Shilling’s ‘Land Art for Kids’. This is great stuff – art, beauty, nature…all rolled into one.
We are off to the beach for a few days, no doubt our trip will involve lots of pebble collecting (an obsession of mine) and a perhaps the creation of a little masterpiece or two…
sounds wonderful! And I too love the way this spontaneous creation occurs – adults should do more of it sometimes i think!
Richard long is another 'land artist' who I saw last year at the Tate – very inspiring about recording walks and collecting items laid out in the gallery and making books – yum!
Hope you enjoy the beach. I am about to embark on the garden now:0
Amelia.x
beautiful! I am a huge fan of Andy Goldsworthy. Have you seen his film, (I think it's called Rivers and Tides?)
and it's so true, kids just have a certain freedom in their creating. Funny to think we adults have to go to a class to un-learn!
Thanks for the link to the artful parent!I love finding great new blogs 🙂
That is so sweet that she made such a beautiful gathering. I swear some days my kids teach me much more then I teach them! I hope you have a wonderful beach trip. That sounds heavenly!
Richard Long…oh those beautiful stones. I stared at them for ages and ages. Amy, I didn't realise there was a film by Andy Goldsworthy. Will look it up. x