Art Nature Dialogues: Interviews With Environmental Artists

INTERVIEWS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ARTISTS Art Nature Dialogues Foreword by Edward Lucie–Smith J O H N K. G R A N D E ART NATURE DIALOGUES ART NATURE DIALOGUES INTERVIEWS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ARTISTS JOHN K. GRANDE Foreword by Edward Lucie-Smith STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State University of New York Press, Albany  2004 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207 Production by Dana Foote Marketing by Fran Keneston Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Grande, John K. Art nature dialogues : interviews with environmental artists / John K. Grande. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–7914 –6193–9 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0–7914 –6194 –7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Environment (Art) 2. Earthworks (Art) 3. Artists—Interviews. I. Title. N6494.E6G73 2004 709′.04′076—dc22 2004045271 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS Illustrations vii Foreword Eco-Art, Then and Now Edward Lucie-Smith xi Introduction True to Nature xv 1 Real Living Art! David Nash 1 2 Yardworking Patrick Dougherty 15 3 Eco-Habitat Gilles Bruni and Marc Babarit 25 4 Ephemeral Public Art Jerilea Zempel 33 5 In Nature’s Eyes Alfio Bonanno 45 6 Mechanical Botanical Doug Buis 59 7 Designing with Nature Michael Singer 71 8 The Vegetal (and Mineral) World(s) of Bob Verschueren 83 9 Nature Vision Nils-Udo 95 10 Riverwork Mario Reis 105 11 Cosmological Shadows Bill Vazan 117 12 No Walk, No Work! Hamish Fulton 129 13 The Spike Egil Martin Kurdøl 139 v Contents 14 Culture Nature Catalyst Betty Beaumont 151 15 Natural/Cultural Alan Sonfist 165 16 Ship of Life Peter von Tiesenhausen 177 17 Earth in Context Reinhard Reitzenstein 189 18 Earthbound Mystery Ursula von Rydingsvard 203 19 Healing Garden Mike MacDonald 213 20 chance & change herman de vries 223 21 The Heart of the Matter Chris Drury 235 Recommended Reading 247 Index 249 vi ILLUSTRATIONS Front cover: David Nash 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Alfio Bonanno. West Coast Relics, 1995. Peace Sculpture Project, Island of Rømø, Denmark. Courtesy of the artist. From top to bottom: work in process, receding tide (detail), West Coast Relics, incoming tide. Standing Frame, 1987 Sheep Space, 2000 Nine Charred Steps, 1988–89 Sod Swap, 1983 Patrick Dougherty 2.1 Be It Ever So Humble, 1999 2.2 Spin Offs, 1990 2.3 Yardwork, 2000 2.4 Holy Rope, 1992 Gilles Bruni and Marc Babarit 3.1 The Lean-To: Building a Temporary Shelter for Peace and Protection in Any Season, 1995 3.2 The Lean-To: Building a Temporary Shelter for Peace and Protection in Any Season (detail), 1995 3.3 and 3.4 The Stream Path: Clothing the Banks for Confrontation and Cohabitation of the Commonb