NATURE AND ANDY GOLDSWORTHY ARE BETTER THAN ME

 Andy Goldsworthy has his identity as a person and artist firmly locked down. People pay him to travel and set up installations that might not be permanent. Sometimes the only evidence is pictures and video. I must admit I am somewhat jealous of this prospect. He appears to be the real deal too. When asked to explain himself; he will most assuredly, albeit slowly, do so.

A film featuring Mr. Goldsworthy was the introduction to a formal study conducted with elements found in nature- an assignment if you will. Best of all, we were to do the study on a series sunny spring days at Tacoma's beautiful Owen Beach (not "Owen's" as you'll hear it called in these parts). We were to go out in groups and explore and create. Once again, we all had issues separating ourselves from concept.

 An inspiring log.

 Our project pictured above. It is only aesthetic. No meaning. Meaning is not allowed here; only form. We added completeness to the form of a log with sticks and debris.

 Form.

 My best shot. Lighting and color aren't great. It was later carried into the ocean. Don't read into it at all.

Next was part two. Go into Point Defiance and create something in response to place... formally.

 Formal trees downed in parallel. Different sizes. I got macabre in my head thinking about a family dying in their backyard from a shock wave lying in the same direction... but this was folly.

 Texture.

 Texture.

 Texture everywhere.

 It was neat but there was no "aha! moment". So, once again I set off like a babe in the woods. I kept thinking about what stuff meant and junk (I'm deep like that). The more I wandered the less I could focus on the assignment.

 Sat on this tree for a while.

 Climbed up in this one and pretended to be a vulture. Nobody saw me. If only I were a panther.

 I saw this moss while I was up there and snapped a rather large amount of photographs.

 I then happened upon this lichen (not the werewolves from Underworld; the fungus and algae partner organism). I plucked and set it upside-down on the moss and photo'd it.

Part Three: The Misunderstandening 

 The dogwoods were in bloom at my Mother's property on the upper Key Peninsula. I plucked them and messed with patterns.

 I enjoy spirals. You're getting sleepy.

  Sleepy.

 Very sleepy.

 Checker board.

 I knew I was doing it wrong. As it was later explained to me: those patterns would look great anywhere. I needed to respond to the place. Which I did when I saw this salal and noticed the different tiers which I then highligted with dogwood flowers. It makes for shit photography, but here it is.

 meh.

 Whoa. What's this? The best that Ian can do! I liked it, anyway.

 

All these trees decided to grow like they are going to fall over. Nothing to do with the assignment.

Stay tuned for part four where Ian doesn't really know what he's doing, but is instead responding to his experience.