Andy Goldsworthy has been described as a Zen master of sorts, producing work that is ephemeral, endlessly mutable, and evanescent. He works by nature’s deadlines to create pieces evocative of time, change and decay connected to their environments. The question often arises whether Goldsworthy’s art is his impermanent pieces, or the photography that captures them. Goldsworthy uses photography as a tool in his artwork; his sculptural pieces, as well as his documentary photographs, complement each other. Goldsworthy uses photography to freeze moments in the passage of time.

Goldsworthy created Leaf, River, Stone in Fall Creek Gorge on a visit he made to Cornell in 1999. He worked directly on the stone, he writes, “in an attempt to tap into the life and energy contained within.” The form is serpentine, suggesting both a snake and a river. He relates these forms to the essence of line and movement, fundamental elements of nature and art. He creates a universal language through his chosen materials of leaves, stone and water, which are subject to the conditions of nature. His piece emphasizes that every moment is important; the moment his hands leaves the stone, the moment the first leaf blows away, and the moment when his presence is only a memory.