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Wall: At Storm King
British artist Andy Goldsworthy, known for creating art outdoors and from natural materials, has now built a 2,278-foot stone wall at Storm King Art Center, a sculpture park on the Hudson River in Mountainville, New York. This sensitive and detailed response to the land - former farmland in an area rich in stone walls - is one of his most impressive and important sculptures.
The book's stunning color photographs show the wall from every vantage point and in all four seasons, and document ephemeral work made around it. Kenneth Baker's essay considers the Storm King wall in the context of Goldsworthy's previous work, in particular the other walls he has made in the United States, France, and Britain.
The book's stunning color photographs show the wall from every vantage point and in all four seasons, and document ephemeral work made around it. Kenneth Baker's essay considers the Storm King wall in the context of Goldsworthy's previous work, in particular the other walls he has made in the United States, France, and Britain.
92 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2000
183 people want to read
About the author
Andy Goldsworthy
32 books177 followersAndy Goldsworthy is an English sculptor, photographer and environmentalist living in Scotland who produces site-specific sculpture and land art situated in natural and urban settings. His art involves the use of natural and found objects, to create both temporary and permanent sculptures which draw out the character of their environment.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 29, 2015
At Storm King Art Centre, Andy Goldsworthy has created a wall. But rather than this being a normal wall to separate one part from another, this has had some of his magic applied.
It is an area that has used dry stone walls for many years, and the feature is built upon the remnants of an earlier wall before it reaches a wood. As it starts to pass through the trees it sweeps in a series of organic curves around the trunks until it reaches the lake, where is sinks beneath the water. On the other side it rises out of the water before heading straight up the hill.
For something so simple and permanent, a wall, Goldsworthy has created a piece that has drama when it disappears into the lake. It also has a certain tension as the trees are young and the wall will be changed as they grow.
Full of colour photos of the construction of the work, it has also got a lot more of the wall through the seasons, with photos of the rich colours in autumn, and the monotone effects that you get from snowfall. Really great book by him.
It is an area that has used dry stone walls for many years, and the feature is built upon the remnants of an earlier wall before it reaches a wood. As it starts to pass through the trees it sweeps in a series of organic curves around the trunks until it reaches the lake, where is sinks beneath the water. On the other side it rises out of the water before heading straight up the hill.
For something so simple and permanent, a wall, Goldsworthy has created a piece that has drama when it disappears into the lake. It also has a certain tension as the trees are young and the wall will be changed as they grow.
Full of colour photos of the construction of the work, it has also got a lot more of the wall through the seasons, with photos of the rich colours in autumn, and the monotone effects that you get from snowfall. Really great book by him.
April 7, 2018
I love art in many of its forms and styles. I love creativity and the surprises it provides. I love to explore the question, Is this art?
This isn't the first book on Andy Goldsworthy that I have read and I am left with the same question, Is this great art? I really can't decide. Of sure the wall is beautiful as it snakes down the hillside and into the lake but... First of all where was Andy Goldsworthy's work? Was this his art or was it the creation of all those hired stone craftsmen? I give credit to the latter. Secondly, was this "work of art" well designed and conceived? My answer as the wife of a stone craftsman is no. For stone walls to be strong and durable they need foundations which were impossible to do and not kill all those trees by cutting their roots. And taking the wall into the lake looks interesting but is fundamentally structurally unsound because of the freeze and thaw of the lake. Does art need to be durable and soundly designed? Well I don't think the artist should do poor quality work. What I know is that I was not impressed.
This isn't the first book on Andy Goldsworthy that I have read and I am left with the same question, Is this great art? I really can't decide. Of sure the wall is beautiful as it snakes down the hillside and into the lake but... First of all where was Andy Goldsworthy's work? Was this his art or was it the creation of all those hired stone craftsmen? I give credit to the latter. Secondly, was this "work of art" well designed and conceived? My answer as the wife of a stone craftsman is no. For stone walls to be strong and durable they need foundations which were impossible to do and not kill all those trees by cutting their roots. And taking the wall into the lake looks interesting but is fundamentally structurally unsound because of the freeze and thaw of the lake. Does art need to be durable and soundly designed? Well I don't think the artist should do poor quality work. What I know is that I was not impressed.
August 30, 2024
Ridiculous. In Britain, farmers have been hand-building stone walls for centuries without any special recognition and they sure aren't getting grants for it.
August 10, 2022
beautiful photos; great layout and book design.
Loved this sculpture at Storm King and glad to have the book to learn more.
Loved this sculpture at Storm King and glad to have the book to learn more.
May 3, 2014
A great volume about a wonderful piece of art that crosses the realms of sculpture, installation art and environmental art. It is amazing how much Goldsworthy's words and art speaks to me. What seems like a simple chore becomes an act of art with the right eye and the right approach. Great pictures in all seasons- as well as concept sketches and smaller pieces he worked on throughout the project. Happy to finally get to this book after eyeing it for years.
July 24, 2015
instead of multiple projects based on a theme in the great outdoors like previous works, this was a contemplation of a single type of structure (old farm walls in UK) from numerous viewpoints (terrain, season, usage) and he actually changes a lot through repair.
I enjoyed it but it was sort of like my experience with jazz: riffing on a theme and slowly tweaking it is complex and nuanced to the aficionado but boring and lazy-seeming to me.
I enjoyed it but it was sort of like my experience with jazz: riffing on a theme and slowly tweaking it is complex and nuanced to the aficionado but boring and lazy-seeming to me.
January 31, 2011
Andy Goldworthy is one of my gods. Installation/sculpture/nature art....his work echoes in my bones...I want to have him do a piece in Portland.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews