Andy Goldsworthy Aspen Exhibition

Posted by Donna Dailey Jan 6, 2008

The work of internationally renowned sculptor Andy Goldsworthy is on display at the Resnick Gallery, part of the Aspen Institute's Doerr Hosier Center, through March 28, 2008.

Goldsworthy's serpentine artwork Stone River winds out from the Doerr Hosier Center, which opened on the Aspen Meadows Resort campus last June. Made of carefully cut blocks of red sandstone from various countries, the sinuous sculpture connects the building with its natural surroundings and symbolically flows out to the world beyond.

The exhibition, entitled Two Creeks: Andy Goldsworthy – Ephemeral Works in the Roaring Fork Valley, displays some of the more fleeting artworks Goldsworthy made while constructing Stone River. They were created with natural materials (leaves, stones, twigs, etc) found on site and in Hunter and Woody creeks nearby.

I'm a big fan of Goldsworthy's work, which is inspired by natural forms and materials. But it took me awhile to warm up (literally!) to his artistic vision.

My husband introduced me to Goldsworthy's art in the early days of our courtship by dragging me across the muddy fields of Cumbria in search of his Sheepfolds. Even the local farmers weren't sure where they were. Soaked by freezing rain and faces stinging from a sudden freak hailstorm, we finally found them.

"We came up here for this?" I sputtered. "It's just a rock in a field!"

Actually, the rock was an ancient drove stone and Goldsworthy's reconstruction of the dry-stone walls preserved a disappearing part of Britain's heritage.

Since then I've come to admire Goldsworthy's works of art in nature. I pass his sandstone egg cairn at Penpont village every year when I visit friends in Scotland. And he has created striking environmental backdrops for artifacts in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Don't miss the chance to see this remarkable artist in Aspen.

*