Midsummer Snowballs

by Andy Goldsworthy, Judith Collins (Introduction)

Just after midnight on June 21, 2000, Midsummer Day, Andy Goldsworthy supervised the unloading of 13 huge snowballs from refrigerated trucks onto the streets of London. What took place as an astonished public came upon these snowballs--each several feet in diameter and weighing about a ton--is captured in spontaneous and evocative pictures taken by photographers working around the clock. Here, then, is the story of Goldsworthy's largest ephemeral work to date. Made in one century and unwrapped to melt very slowly in the next, this is four-dimensional sculpture in which the lifespan and history of the snowballs are as important as their appearance at any moment. As Judith Collins explains in her introduction, and Goldsworthy in his diaries, this is a natural progression from his previous work with snow. Goldsworthy presents a unique confrontation between the wilderness and the city--snowballs made in the Scottish winter brought to the streets of London in the summertime.
More than 100 photographs in full color, 144 pages, 8 x 10"

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Photography, Nature

158 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2001

About the author

Andy 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.

Reviews

[Kate]

Over the course of 2 winters, Andy and his assistants sculpted these massive (about 5 or 6 foot high) snowballs, and secreted objects and materials inside of them. Just before dawn, on the 21st of June, 2000, he placed the 12 snowballs at various locations around London, and then photographed their decay, and also the reactions of the people who encountered the snowballs. Materials like elm branches, barbed wire, black feathers, brown cow's hair and white sheep's wool, pinecones, chalk, and red earth all gradually appeared from inside the snowballs, and after about 2 days, those materials were all that remained.

[Cindy May]

Best book to read on a hot summer's day!

Plus, I am reading it for background info. since I am taking a class at the Dublin Rec. Centre in July that focuses on his art.

I bought it at Pottery Barn, of all the funny places to buy an Art book (where they're used as coffee table display items).

My favorite pictures are on page 75. There are three photos of the 'Beech' snowball and a dog removing one of the sticks from the melting snowball (as you do when you're a dog!).

[Jane]

Get this book. Look at it a lot. Call me.

[Marni]

I absolutely love these darn snowballs!

[Craig]

Genius.

[Jennifer]

If you're not familiar with Andy Goldsworthy, check him out ... art for purely art's sake ... temporary, ephemeral, gorgeous.