This is a huge magnolia tree in Maymont Park that has some graffiti. I don't know if it was meant to be "art" but it does use the natural environment as a means of expression.

Nazca Lines in Peru!!

I took these from the plane. The purpose of the Nazca lines is still a mystery, but many people believe they were meant for ritualistic walking and/or maps pointing to water sources.

This is one of the Nazca Lines in Nazca, Peru. We actually walked on it which is super illegal...but super awesome.

Moray; Moras, Peru

I went to Peru this past summer and visited this site, Moray, outside of Moras. It's an Inca site from ca. late 15th century believed to be used as terracing for crops. The way the stone steps and walls sit in the earth is unbelievable; it looks like the hills grew up around it. While Moray was used probably for ceremonial and agricultural purposes, it's hard to deny the ingenious design, craftsmanship, and beauty.

I think leaves are particularly eye-catching in the fall, and I have a habit of looking for them anytime I walk. This picture is of leaf stains/residue on a sidewalk. I think the process of something naturally making marks on something man-made is pretty neat.

I saw this while walking in Charlottesville. I didn't place the leaves where they are, but I liked the layout.

"Cement Garden"

My friend told me about this place down an alleyway off of Allen street. I thought it was an interesting use of the space between backyards of people's houses. It's a fun display of design within a tight urban environment and is also very user friendly. While the park isn't created from natural elements, it exists harmoniously with the environment.

Robert Smithson, Floating Island to Travel Around Manhattan Island, 1970

James Turrell, Roden Crater, Flagstaff, Arizona; Turrell began construction in 1972 and plans to open the space as a celestial observatory in 2011

Andy Goldsworthy, Floating Hole, 1986

Hummingbird, part of the Nazca Lines in Nazca, Peru.

Earth Art

Earth Art is a type of art in which elements of an environment are used as the means of creation. Earth artists may use naturally occurring materials, including dirt, stones, leaves, and vegetation, to create works that either exist fully in nature or are shown in galleries. Alternate media, like photography and video documentation, is often used as a way of preserving the piece.
Also named Land art, Earthworks, or Environmental Art, Earth Art became popular in the 1960s and 70s, particularly with the increase in environmental awareness and concern. Some well known earth artists include Robert Smithson, famous for his Spiral Jetty, Andy Goldsworthy, and James Turrell. The Nazca Lines in Peru and Stonehenge in England are ancient examples of site-specific creations.