Film Review: ‘Leaning Into the Wind - Andy Goldsworthy’ Profiles the Artist and His Muse

CHICAGO – The British artist Andy Goldsworthy is a true “outsider” artist, because many of his works are rooted in the grown-and-death cycles of the great outdoors. He is described as a sculptor, photographer and environmentalist, but many of his art creations use materials available in any wooded area, based on a connection to nature combined with a creative soul. This is profiled in the second film about him from the same director, “Leaning Into the Wind - Andy Goldsworthy.”

Rating: 4.0/5.0

This is a followup documentary film to “Rivers and Tides - Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time” (2001) by director Thomas Riedelsheimer, who also directs “Leaning Into the Wind.” The director obviously loves his subject, as the film is a valentine to Goldworthy’s methods and completed works. This functions as a study of both how perhaps ancient civilizations invented art, and the collaboration that the artist has using the natural environment as his media. Goldsworthy is a fascinating man as well, mellow as a guru and several times as meditative and philosophy.

The film begins with artist Andy Goldsworthy (referred to as AG for the rest of the review) exploring a new use for manure and clay, which forms a hard surface that a poorer family uses as a floor. He uses this technique in a new installation, which is a dead tree that is preserved forever within that clay, and integrated into a building. This serves to introduce the artist, and his assistant daughter Holly, as he describes his journey and truth.

“Leaning Into the Wind - Andy Goldsworthy” continues its limited release at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago through April 5th, 2018. Click here [18] for details. See local listings for other theaters and show times. Featuring Andy Goldsworthy. Directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer. Rated “PG”