Crystal Gardens

Most of us gardeners hibernate during the winter months, just as our plants take the rest also. There is the occasional excitement of any Amaryllis bulb or the upcoming Paperwhites of winter. But it is hard to find something that feeds our creative soul in its bond with nature.

I take a bit of joy in my holiday lights, which is a way to embellish my yard with color in the bleakest of winter. But it is just smoke and mirrors and not really about nature at all. So here is a slight detour that uses the elements of the season to create spontaneous garden art. Many of you in town have likely heard of the inspirational Zug Zug Man frozen into a block of plexi-ice along the trails on Theodore Wirth Prkway. I did venture out and found him easily resting on a sheet of pure ice. But here is a glimpse to something that is pure artist - Andy Goldsworthy. I found him on a recent post, but am finding most of his work goes back 4 decades or so.

He is Scottish and sets out about the world to do onsite installations of winter art. Imagine ice, snow, leaves and branches as a pallet and then arranging them in provoking displays. His most notable piece was probably in 1989 when he made a trek to the North Pole and constructed 4 simultaneous rings of ice blocks in a circle - the concept; that each window faced South at the same time. But often he stays closer to home across the British countryside. His artworks are the fascinating alchemy of architecture and temperature - made only to last for a short interval, much like chalk art on a sidewalk. He talks about "taking art to the very edge of collapse." Because they last only a short while, there are not a wealth of images out there. But here are some to ponder.

It looks like there is also a documentary film called Rivers and Tides out there.  link to watch, which I surely will. Winter Wonders!

River and Tides trailer