May I introduce you to Simon Beck, native Englishman who plays in the snow! Nope, not making snowmen, not ice skating…well, maybe he does those two things, but they’re not mentioned in his interviews. What we DO know is the man is an artist!
Lac Marlou 2012-2013. Photo courtesy of Simon Beck on Facebook.
Got that WOW! factor yet?! Mr. Beck takes up residence in the French Alps most of the year in a resort called Les Arcs and that’s where most of his art is….uh, created.
Take another look. Got any clue how he creates his art?
Lake outside of Les Arc 2013. Photo courtesy Simon Beck on Facebook.
Are you impressed yet? I am. He makes these designs with his feet. In snowshoes. In really really cold temps!!
Simon Beck at Lac Marlou 2013
According to his “About” pages at Facebook, it takes him around 10 hours to conjure up these gorgeous designs. His “day job” is an orienteering mapmaker. Having NO idea what that meant, I went straight to Wikipedia and learned that an orienteering map is: ” a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area.”
He says this map making expertise and a good orienteering compass are of special use in the making of his art. Also helpful are, according to the man himself:
The locations are in the ski resort where I own an apartment, the issues that have to be considered are avalanche danger, strength of the ice (when using a frozen lake), amount of effort to get from home to the site, whether the site has been tracked, and availability of a suitable location to take photos from.
One word. unbelievable!!!!!!!!!! Go to his Facebook page for more photos.
Reminds me of guy that been in these parts for a long time. He also does things that reminds folks of alien art. Stan Herd. His specialty is earthwork art! Only he makes his art in the middle of wheat fields or maybe corn fields using combines, tractors or as he puts it “manipulating the earth” into art otherwise known as “crop art”. Cool huh?
Photo courtesy of Jon Blumb at Stan Herd on Facebook
I’m sure you would guess…I love all things artsy! These are awesome and even though have seen many different kinds of earth art, these are new to me! Thanks for posting! You might also check out the art of Andy Goldsworthy and Christo.
Interestingly I am in the process of writing an earth art lesson plan for my schools with those 2 artists for this semester! Now I can add Simon to the list! Your timing is impeccable!!!
Stan, too! Amazing!
So glad this is helpful! I am so amazed at what people come up with in the creative department. I’ll check them out first thing in the AM!!