Fleeting art in nature
Replication of patterns in nature is quite common, whether it be petals on a flower, fronds on a fern or rings on a tree stump. Noticing some of the more subtle patterns can be interesting, too, like the wavy bark of a tree, leaves and shadows in a still pool of water, or ripples in the sand on a lake bottom.
The shores of Lake Superior offer countless layers and patterns and colors in the rock. It’s as if nature is a canvas on which beauty is continually created, destroyed by its own forces, and created again.
I’ve always enjoyed the work of artists who build ephemeral art — art that is temporary, fleeting. It could be ornate sand castles or stone sculptures on a beach washed away hours later by the tides or a performance that only occurs once. Ephemeral art cannot be embodied in any lasting object to be shown in a museum or gallery.
The audience is an important part of ephemeral art, as the piece can change in an instant and continue to change from moment to moment. This style of art appeals to the senses in a different way and encourages viewers to contemplate their own existence and mortality along with the beauty they are witnessing.
To me this is the intrinsic value of art: to be seen and to bring great pleasure, even if just for a moment.
Related links, courtesy CBS Sunday Morning:
Land Artist Jon Foreman uses rocks and raked sand to turn the beaches of Wales into spectacular designs that are destined to be washed away.
Toy designer David Bird uses acorns and sticks to build tiny creatures he affectionally calls Becorns (a pun on the word "Acorn").
Photo credit, Leaves and shadows in a still pool of water: John Mevis