You may wonder what the connection is between Rye and Andy Goldsworthy OBE, an extraordinary artist, sculptor, photographer and environmentalist who presently is exhibiting in the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, Andy Goldsworthy – Fifty Years. The simple answer, the Sussex Wildlife Trust is offering an educational programme for schools at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Explore the Shore inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy.
Andy’s art is extraordinary, different to other art. It is weaved, built with only nature’s offerings, no artificial connections within the art work. He was born in Cheshire but settled with his family in Scotland. He was influenced by several artists such as Ben Nicholson and Constantine Brancusi. Throughout his life his artwork and sculptures have been made from natural resources and can be seen throughout the world and the Yorkshire sculpture park.
In the Goldsworthy exhibition, a short film shows how he created, with some help, the three snowballs, placed eventually around London. He filmed the reactions of people which was very amusing, especially when the snowballs started melting and nature appeared out of them – berries, corn flowers and tree twigs.
All his art and installations are fascinating and inspiring. Andy says: “The landscape is very old but it is not an antique, it is not dead, not finished. There are things that are old and things that are dead and things that are born.”
The Explore the Shore session at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve gives pupils the opportunity to explore the shoreline of Rye Harbour, learn about tides and waves, and take part in beachcombing to see what the tide washes up. The children make postcards from the sea and get creative inspired by Goldsworthy’s pebble art.
Other sessions in the education programme for schools at the reserve are on the saltmarsh habitat, a session on shingle plants and one on the landscape of the reserve with a walk to gain inspiration and record ideas for a creative piece of work. For Key Stage 2 children this session is specifically about climate issues, finding out about the landscape at Rye and Rye Harbour which has been shaped and created by the action of the river, sea and people who have lived and worked there.
Schools should definitely get in touch with Sussex Wildlife Trust and can book their educational programme sessions here.
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .