The following pieces of art were chosen for this exhibit based on the theme A Walk in the Park. Although some are a touch of fantasy for an actual park, they tug on the imagination to explore what it might be like to see such things on a walk through the park. Most include a pool or creek, which I believe all good parks should have. This theme also gave me an opportunity to explore works from my favorite styles from the postmodern era: environmental art and street art. The gallery includes art form two artists: Julian Beever and Andy Goldworthy.
Julian Beever is a British artist who specializes in street drawing incorporating optical illusions. Beever’s work has been seen gracing the streets throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States. As his mediums is chalk, the only remnant of his life’s works are the photographs that capture the images.
Andy Goldworthy is an Environmental artist who creates sculptures from various item found in nature. His creations are constructed in their natural setting and only documented through the photographs taken of them. Goldsworthy, like Beever, is British.
“Carefully broken pebbles scratched white with another stone”
This piece was created by Andy Goldsworthy in June 1, 1985 in St. Abbs Scottland. I enjoy the whimsical feel of the spiral of pebbles. The meticulous task of cracking each stone in just the right place must have been time consuming, but it gives great aesthetic appeal to the creation. As all of the photographs in this gallery will elude, when walking through the park, one would be most delighted to happen upon such a scene, even if only in ones imagination.
“Floating hole”
This piece by Andy Goldsworthy was constructed in September of 1986 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. I have often been walking in the fall here in Alaska when I have seen a pond filled with leaves such as this. Of course those I have seen have lacked a hole, but it is a familiar sight for sure. For this reason, I chose to include this piece of art.
“About to meet Mr. Newt”
Julian Beever’s creation above (I was unable to find date and location information for his artwork) depicts a scene that many who have strolled along ponds of parks have come across. Lily pads dance atop the water as exciting creatures await below. As a child one of my favorite things to do was to search for frogs and salamanders in the ponds, lakes, and streams around Spokane, Washington. I enjoy the playful feel of this drawing. Not only is it playful because of the drawing itself, but for the medium it is constructed with. Chalk, perhaps the most exciting art medium for children during long summer days.
Iris leaves with Rowan berries
Once again I had trouble finding a date and location for the above work of art. It is a creation again of Andy Goldsworthy. This is perhaps my favorite of all the works I have seen in his portfolio. The contrast between the green of the Iris leaves and the red of the Rowan berries is captivating. It reminds me of the contrasting colors that can be seen in the early fall on the nature walk in Creamers Field in Fairbanks, AK.
“Feeding the fish”
I have a vague memory of a similar scene to the above from a trip my family took to the Japanese Gardens where we used to live. There was a waterfall from a stream in the park, and at the bottom, the pool was filled with goldfish of similar coloration to the one in the street drawing above by Julian Beever. The theme of this gallery is almost perfectly embodied in this one drawing. A trip back in time to distant childhood memories and imagined happenings built from walks through various parks or up the banks of a stream.
“Meeting Madame Butterfly”
What is better than a life sized butterfly? Well, a dream sized butterfly. Meeting Madame Butterfly was drawn in Mexico City by Julian Beever to be captured by the television show Concrete Canvas. Every one of Beever’s drawings amazes me. It seems that the butterfly is actually floating above the pavement, but a closer glance at the crowd standing around the drawing gives a better sense of the size and anatomy of the drawing.
The information for Beever’s work was found at http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm and the information for Goldsworthy’s work was found at two websites: http://www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/ and http://www.morning-earth.org/ARTISTNATURALISTS/AN_Goldsworthy.html.
Awesome theme Bethany. It took a little bit of looking through all our blog lists for me to find one that had an environmental theme. Although my tour did not focus on the environment, environmental art is one of my favorite subjects to look at.
The Walk in the Park theme was well represented in this tour and you can tell that it took careful planning to choose which photographs to put in. Although I am not that familiar with either of the artists, I feel much more versed in environmental art than I did before viewing your blog. Grade A job!!
Thanks for posing this blog. A couple months ago I got a chain mail with pictures full of Beever’s work. When I first saw the pictures I was very impressed and amused but until now I didn’t know his name, so thank you for introducing him. I mus say, I absolutely love Beever’s work. It can take us all back to being a child and I think that’s very important. Also, the techniques he use with the chalks to create the dimensions is amazing. His art works fit your theme perfectly.
I mus say, I was not as interested in Goldsworthy’s art, but it does fit your theme very well. Of his works, I liked the Iris Leaves with the Rowan Berries. Like you, I enjoyed the contrast of colors. I think its very interesting how well he creates art on water.
Once again Great job!
First of all nice theme. It really worked, it was a walk in the park. I to love Beever’s work, but I really did not get the feel for Goldsworthy art. I think that Beevers work is amazing. I really enjoyed your blog and you did a good job explaining all the information. Good Job.
Nice connection between the two. I wish I would have read yours before I did mine! I too had a hard time finding information on Julian Beevers works. It was kinda hit or miss. I am glad you chose an environmental artist’s works to protray, because to be honest, I didn’t have a good idea of the type of work that they would produce. I can just picture the guy out at the beach arrangeing the seashells in a particular way just like all the other kids at the beach. The only difference is he called his art and took a picture. Still it is cool.
Very nice exhibit. I really liked that you used a more abstract theme to unite a variety of styles of conceptual art! I really liked Goldsworthy’s work… Beever’s is cool too, of course!
Some more biographical information on either and/or both of them would be nice.
I really liked the way that your exhibit was able to highlight a multiplicity of aesthetic styles – trompe l’oueil and fantast, asian influenced minimalism (with the rowan berries), and site specific environmental art. The connections it makes in the mind of the viewer is best part!