Artist Study: Andy Goldsworthy: Week Two, Parts Two through Five

Last week, before setting into make visual art, we spent a few minutes making art of the more experiential type. We spent some time simply kicking the leaves into the air (part one). As a part of that process we collected leaves and things that caught our eyes and taped them onto paper crowns the students had made earlier in the classroom. (part two)

Also in the classroom, we had been looking at photos of Andy Goldsworthy throwing objects over a cliff and snapping a picture of what those objects looked like mid air. This week, each of the students spent some time gathering leaves together and then throwing them into the air for a photo. Next week, the children will look at pictures of each other in motion with the leaves. (part three)

After taking the photos, we all gathered together and talked about our favorite Goldsworthy project so far, and the consensus among the children was that building the snake sculpture during week one was the best thing so far. Some how, this discussion evolved into the children collecting red leaves to place along the edge of a large grey rock.

After completing the red outline, an inner layer of of yellow leaves was added. When all of the yellow leaves had been collected a few students wanted to add brown leaves, but most were content with it like this and time was at a minimum.

One quiet and quite conscientious girl suggested an acorn happy face for the center of the rock. Her fellow classmates gathered them up in bundles and brought them to her for the finishing touches, which she applied with great focus and intention. (part 4)

When our art was finished we took a second to take it in and snap a picture. Then we headed to the pond for our last experience of the day. We gathered surrounding rocks, acorns, sticks and leaves and took them to the green algae covered pond. We observed the quite stillness of the algae and then threw our goods into the water, watching the algae separate and then come back together again as if it had never been disrupted. (part five)

Next week, I am hoping to help the children put these photos together in a book to take home. My vision is that they can remember these experiences and the sketches they made to go along with them, share some of their own thoughts, words and images about them and treasure them with their families. I guess we'll have to wait and see what really happens next week though!

Have a beautiful day!