Andy Goldsworthy Fifty Years - Edinburgh

Andy Goldsworthy - Wool Runner

 

Andy Goldsworthy Fifty Years is currently showing at the National Gallery (Royal Scottish Academy) in Edinburgh.  Goldsworthy is a land artist, known for working with natural materials.  Much of his work that you may be familiar with takes the form of outdoor installations. The exhibits made especially for this exhibition are in response to the Royal Scottish Academy building.  Overall there's lots to see - 3D installations, 2D & 3D artwork, photos, film and it's all fascinating.  I'd say it's a "must see" if you can make it.  Of everything, it was the large scale installations that I liked best.  Here's a flavour... 

When you arrive you are greeted by Wool Runner (see above) which is a series of fleeces showing the farmers' colour coded markings, that are attached to sheep netting with thorns.

Andy Goldsworthy - Fence

At the top of the stairs is Fence, made of rusty barbed wire, stretched between two of the buildings columns. The columns are protected by a layer of rope that is wrapped round them. Goldsworthy comments about the fences/barriers/obstacles that he encounters in his work, and how he hopes to find a way through.

Andy Goldsworthy - Fence (detail)

In this area are two sheep paintings.  A mineral block (sheep food) was placed in a field of sheep on a canvas. The weather, number of sheep and how often they visited the food source all affected the outcome.  The white central circle is where the mineral block was placed and later removed...

Andy Goldsworthy - Sheep Painting

Andy Goldsworthy - Sheep Painting (detail)

In an adjacent room is Skylight, made from bullrushes, collected from Dumfries and Galloway where Goldsworthy is based, and also from Angus. The seed heads have been removed and the thinner end of one is inserted into the thicker end of another to make this floor to ceiling installation around a central skylight.

Andy Goldsworthy - Skylight

Andy Goldsworthy - Skylight

Gravestones is seen as a partner piece to Skylight.  Gravestones being from the earth and Skylight reaching for the light.  The stones are collected from graveyards across Dumfries and Galloway and are those that are displaced when graves are dug.  A larger Gravestones project is planned and there are maps showing where all the stones have come from.... 

Andy Goldsworthy - Gravestones

Blank flags were dyed with the reddest earth from each of the 50 American states, originally for an installation at the Rockefeller Centre in New York. You can see them displayed here. We are told that Goldsworthy hoped that the connection of flag and land would offer connection rather than division and a different sort of defence of the land (environmetal rather than fighting).

Andy Goldsworthy - Flags

Oak Passage has been constructed from fallen branches and serves as a reminder that the oak floor was once a tree.  At the far end is Dock Drawing and at the other end a swirl of ferns pinned on with thorns...

Andy Goldsworthy - Oak Passage
(Dock Drawing on the far wall)

Andy Goldsworthy - Ferns and Thorns

Red Wall was made by plastering sieved, dried, crushed, clay rich earth, dug from the Lowther Hills in Dumfriesshire, mixed with water onto a backing that fits the wall space.  As it dried it has cracked and as the exhibition progresses chunks may fall off.  Its redness comes from its high iron content.  Goldsworthy reminds us that our blood also has a high iron content and suggests that this commonality binds us to the earth...

Andy Goldsworthy - Red Wall

Andy Goldsworthy - Red Wall (detail)

I found the Hare Blood Snow paintings(?) rather gruesome.  Goldsworthy hit a hare, while driving and took it home, disemboweled it, filled it with snow, hung it up and then as the snow melted it dripped blood onto paper below.

Andy Goldsworthy - Hare Blood Snow (detail)

Keep your eyes peeled as you wander round so you don't miss anything...

Andy Goldsworthy - Barbed Wire Ball

There are also lots of varied photographs...

Andy Goldsworthy - Black Sand, Morecambe Bay, Lancashire (detail) 

Andy Goldsworthy - Iron. Rising out of the ground in the valley below. Collected and painted onto a dead hawthorn tree.

And don't miss this one as you're leaving...

Andy Goldsworthy - Work Gloves

On until 2 November 2025, this exhibition is well worth a visit.  The Royal Scottish Academy has a cafe and is a short walk from Waverley station.

The Welsh Quilt Centre, Lampeter

Flannel Patchwork, Four Bow Ties
Ceredigion, circa 1880

On a recent holiday to Tenby, I took a side trip to Lampeter to see The Welsh Quilt Centre.  The exhibition, entitled "As Time Goes By", showcases the ingenuity of Welsh quiltmakers.  These women worked in a cottage industry that lasted almost one and a half centuries and, at the Welsh Quilt Centre, are finally getting recognition for their art.

Treorchy Quilt (on bed) - Late 19th/Early 20th Century, Red Crosses Quilt (above bed) - Rhayader, Powys, circa 1890

The Welsh Quilt Centre opened in 2009 and was the brainchild of Jen Jones who has collected Welsh Quilts and textiles for over 40 years. It has been integral to the saving and preservation of this element of Welsh heritage. Housed in Lampeter's former town hall, with a cafe next door, the Centre aims to promote and celebrate the art of the Welsh Quilt, alongside the contemporary works of local and international artists.

Log Cabin Quilt (on bed) - late 19th Century, Butterfly Quilt (above bed) - circa 1880, Victorian Patchwork (far wall)

Log Cabin Quilt - detail

Here are some that caught my eye and I liked the room mock ups.

Country Patchwork Quilt
Llangain, Llansteffan - Victorian

There is also a gallery shop stocking vintage and modern textiles and if this doesn't provide what you're looking for you can head out to Llanybydder to Jen Jones Welsh Quilts and Blankets Cottage Shop. Here you can find a vast array of Welsh quilts, blankets, shawls, antiques and more.

Pink Satin Cotton Quilt, flounced (on bed) - Carmarthenshire, early 20th Century, Llandeilo Fans Satin Cotton Quilt (on wall to left) - early 20th Century, Pale Pink Wholecloth Quilt (on wall to right) - Welsh Valleys, circa 1930

Pale Pink Wholecloth Quilt - detail

Whilst I prefer patchwork to wholecloth quilts, I couldn't help but admire the skill and workmanship that had gone into hand quilting all these pieces and there were many more on show than I have pictured.

Cefyn Burgess - Thomas Jones Presbyterian Chapel Nongsawlia  

In Gallery 2, Cefyn Burgess was exhibiting his machine embroidered pieces "In The Khasi Hills" which looks at the history of the Welsh in the Khasi Hills in north east India and also the Khasi people.

Cefyn Burgess - Townscape Shillong (354)

If you're in the area go take a look.  On until 22 Saturday November 2025.