Artist hops from tiny twigs to 200-ton superslab

By MARY CATHERINE CUSACK

“Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.” Until recently, Scotland-based sculptor Andy Goldsworthy took those signs very seriously. Goldsworthy, 50, has spent almost 35 years creating site-specific works from natural objects in their native environment. His works are often temporary, allowing time and nature to take back raw materials such as twigs, leaves, stones, and ice. In many cases, the only evidence of Goldsworthy’s presence are photographs taken to exhibitions and published in his many coffee-table books.

Courtesy of Meijer Gardens Yes, we’ve heard: Monumentality with humor is the touchstone of “Herd of Arches.”

‘Andy Goldsworthy: Arches’ Meijer Gardens 1000 E. Beltline NE, Grand Rapids Through May 14. Admission to the gardens: $12 adults, $9 students and seniors, $6 children 5-13, $4 children 3-4, free for kids under 2. 1-888-957-1580

People who know his work will be surprised to see that he’s transcended his usual method of operation and broken the rules that he has followed for so many years. He’s in an “arch” period these days, and the ultimate evidence is the “Grand Rapids Arch,” a monumental permanent addition at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

The “Grand Rapids Arch,” 35 feet long and 18 feet tall, is comprised of 37 sandstone slabs, each weighing between two and eight tons. The installation is part of “Andy Goldsworthy: Arches,” the largest U.S. exhibit of Goldsworthy’s work to date.

After making the trek to the sculpture park outside to visit the Grand Rapids Arch, visitors can warm up inside the main building and peruse photographs of Goldsworthy’s temporary works, examine some of his stone works, and walk among the 11 smaller but still impressive arches that make up the “Herd of Arches” in the main gallery. The “Herd” is an almost whimsical installation that drives home the theme of arches as living, moving objects with personality, as opposed to static piles of stone.

But the behemoth of the exhibit is the “Grand Rapids Arch,” which can be viewed from many angles and perspectives. The slabs were cut from a quarry near Goldsworthy’s home in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, violating another Goldsworthy practice of using materials found in and around the site of his works. But the importation of the sandstone echoes themes of his arch works: movement and travel.

Mary Catherine Cusack/City Pulse Arch fetishl: Scotland-based Andy Golsworthy has made his mark in Grand Rapids.

“The arches are an interesting theme that goes back to the ‘80s, when he was doing them in snow and ice, with twigs and stone,” explains Joseph Bercherer, director of the gardens’ sculpture program. “He has in a sense kept going with that. He’s intrigued with the notion of the arch, not as a portal or a gateway but as having some life and some movement to it.”

Bercherer also finds in the arches a metaphorical quality relating to Goldsworthy’s personal life. As the artist travels restlessly from site to site, the unity and sweep of his own artistic vision forms conceptual arches between the various installations.

The Meijer project began over four years ago, when the garden staff making their first contact with Goldsworthy. “From our earliest dreamings and imaginations to right now, it’s a long process,” Bercherer says. “It feels like it’s always been here, or should have been here from the very beginning. It feels right.”

Goldsworthy came to the gardens in June 2005 to assess the grounds and choose a site for the arch, on a former service drive atop a hill overlooking the Children’s Garden and the gallery building. While the staff and crew of the Meijer Gardens spent last summer preparing the site, Goldsworthy and his crew prepared the stone slabs in England. Goldsworthy returned in October with his three-man crew to oversee installation of the arch. He also worked with the horticulture department at the Gardens to choose the grasses and shrubs that will be planted this spring in the environment surrounding the arch.

Courtesy of Meijer Gardens Spirally stoned: The show at Meijer Gardens includes smaller works like this one.

Bercherer says he aggressively courted Goldsworthy because the artists’ work dovetails perfectly with the gardens’ mission of harmonizing sculpture, art, horticulture and nature. “Goldsworthy was a bulls-eye for us because of who he is,” Bercherer explains. “This was one of our dream projects.”

The Grand Rapids Arch is one of Goldsworthy’s largest pieces to date. As part of his “arches” period, Goldsworthy has installed permanent works in Montreal, at Wichita State University, and in Goodwood, England.

Reaction to the exhibit has been overwhelmingly positive, and the exhibit has drawn a large and diverse crowd. “People really love Goldsworthy,” Bercherer says. “He has such a crossover appeal. There’s the people who come at him because they love art, and then there’s the people who are nature-lovers or environmentalists. And then there are these people who just are so intrigued with what he’s doing.”