Hi all,

I have been messing around with Art.  Art messes with me.  Art is kind of like a bully in my life.

Remember how I really like that artist Andy Goldsworthy?

Yes that guy.

I believe he is a viable response to modern art.  His post-modern/contemporary art is connected to nature while still emphasizing form and beauty.  It defies convention, it’s outdoors, it’s outside of the gallery.  I’m certainly convinced that we live in the age of the gallery.  David Harman convinced me of that.  In any case, I admire Andy Goldsworthy.  I doubt I will try much to emulate him, as I’m not a sculptor.  I did, however, ask my students to emulate him.  I asked them to make rock sculptures after his style.  I was very impressed with what they came up with.  One of my students was pretty excited about it, and even made her own sea-shell sculpture over her spring break!  She e-mailed me the photos that she took (she’s also learning a bit of photography):

Right now I’m having my students do an ekphrastic painting from 13 ways of looking at a Blackbird.

Thanks Kim Owens for the idea!

Cheers,

PB