The Garden
of Stones
An outdoor installation work by Andy Goldsworthy
A visitation by David Harmon
On 10/15/16,
Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York City
The Garden of Stones
is an inspirational work and quite well suited for its purpose as a creative permanent
installation piece in remembrance to the Jewish Holocaust. I had seen it on an
overcast day which allowed for an even contrast of viewing as each stone held
its own identity within the community of similar stones. Within the distance
one can see the Statue of Liberty standing in the South Ferry, NY Harbor.
Fragility and tenacity are key words to describe this work of art. Life is both
fragile and tough, bearing the forces of weather and humankind. 18 stones
(really boulders) were laid out to form a pathway with very small passages .The
garden is 4,150 square feet. The stones chosen were boulders that he had
selected from Barre, Vermont.
He had chosen only those stones free of flaws. The sizes range from 3-13 tons.
Goldsworthy has always become familiar with the processes of selection and
familiarity with natural materials he uses with his work. The interior of the
stones had returned to a molten state in which they had originally been formed.
His technique utilized coring, water jet cutting and flame torching. Granite is
a fire-formed stone, so Goldsworthy saw an immediate connection with his
Holocaust motif. Dwarf oak trees were chosen as small saplings which will
eventually grow to over 12 feet tall.
One of the most powerful images I have of New
York was staying in a hotel on Broadway. My
room was high up in the building, I think on the 17th store. I
looked out the window of my room and noticed that a tree had seeded itself,
growing out of the side of the building opposite. It was for me a potent image
of nature’s ability to grow, even in the most difficult circumstances.
I often think of the prescient painting by Thomas Cole,Desolation,1836.It was inspired by the following:
From Lord Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage
Goldsworthy’s proposal was chosen from 60 internationally renowned
artists. An installation referred to as the Timekeeper, allows museum guests to
view the garden via time lapsed photography. One can see the garden when they
are not there to witness growth. Jewish tradition has family members visiting
the grave stone and placing stones on the site as a visual symbol of remembrance
usually one year to the date of a person’s death. Garden
of Stones magnifies this tradition
by the growth of the tree within the solidity of the stone which implies the
famous saying
Never forget.
Garden of
Stones reflects the inherent tension between the ephemeral and the timeless,
between young and old, and between the unyielding and the pliable. More
importantly, it demonstrates how elements of nature can survive in seemingly
impossible places…Goldsworthy brings stone and trees together as a
representation of life cycles intertwined. As a living memorial, the garden is
a tribute to the hardship, struggle, tenacity, and survival experienced by
those who endured the Holocaust. This contemplative space, meant to be
revisited and experienced differently over time as the garden matures, is
visible from almost every floor of the Museum. The effect of time on humans and
nature, a key factor in Goldsworthy's work, is richly present in Garden of
Stones, as the sculpture will be viewed, as well as cared for, by future
generations.(From a
plaque near the art work)
