ACCEPTING IMPERMANENCE

In our reading Skip Schuckmann discusses his acceptance of impermanence and in my search I found the artist Andy Goldsworthy to feel the same. He too is inspired by the natural environment that surrounds him.

He states, "I enjoy the freedom of just using my hands and "found" tools--a sharp stone, the quill of a feather, thorns. I take the opportunities each day offers: if it is snowing, I work with snow, at leaf-fall it will be with leaves; a blown-over tree becomes a source of twigs and branches. I stop at a place or pick up a material because I feel that there is something to be discovered. Here is where I can learn."

Andy relies on pictures to capture his work. To view some of his photographs click on this link
http://www.morning-earth.org/ARTISTNATURALISTS/AN_Goldsworthy.html

When looking over his pieces I felt alive in remembering the beauty of ordinary objects that most people tend to look over in their busy lives. This reflection reminds me of Skip's definition of bulldozer consistency. We really do need to take a second and reflect on the gift that nature creates around us, to appreciate the gladness or satisfaction that may result from this purposeful pause.