The Incredible Art Of Stone Balancing

in #sculpture7 years ago (edited)

Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas!

Well yesterday I stumbled onto an amazing artist while I was looking for a cover photo for my post. This guy works with rocks and stones, creating fascinating sculptures by stacking them.

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And usually the results look impossible, like they're defying the laws of physics.

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His name is Michael Grab and he started working with rocks in Boulder Colorado. Isn't that a fitting place to stack rocks! After years of practice, he's honed his skills to baffling levels.

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On his website gravityglue, he gives an explanation of how he does it:

"Balance requires a minimum of three contact points. Luckily, every rock is covered in a variety of indentations that can act as a natural tripod for the rock to stand upright. When the rocks touch, you can feel the vibrations or "clicks," as the surfaces move against each other."

A core, non physical element is meditation. In order to feel the smallest clicks, it helps to breathe slowly, clear the mind, and relax, while remaining alert. Something to note: This meditative state seems also a natural symptom of feeling for balance points.

Achieving a challenging balance requires patience and becoming fully in touch with NOW(where the vibrations live). You must get to know the rocks you are working with. Some rock characters will coordinate better with others, vise versa, back, forth, right, left, up or down.

The trick I've found is to play and experiment. Start simple. Step by step. Add complications if you feel. "Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda"
-LEAVE NO TRACE-

I don't understand all that but I have about as much artistic gifts as a fence post. If that all makes sense to you, let me know. Here's a few more sculptures:

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How in the world did he do this??
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This one here is one of my favorites, I think it's in the Arizona desert:

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Kudos Sir, I don't think anyone in the world is doing this!
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This video actually shows him building one in real time. It doesn't look possible and yet he does it right before your eyes:

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Thanks for stopping by folks, God bless you all!
-jonboy
Texas

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I don't really understand how they do it... my record is 3 stones!

I don't know either but the artist said it took him years of practice, I'm sure it was mostly failures at first! Thanks so much for commenting.

Hey janton, I love this type of artwork, so much energy is flowing with the stones and nature. Just beautiful and yes very clever balancing.

After seeing those would you like to try it angiemitchell? I don't think I'd have the patience!

I seriously need to spend time practicing this art Cowboy 🙏

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Oh that's a great idea reikigirl! That would make for some great posts too I think. It's getting pretty dang cold to do that now though, isn't it? Like I can't imagine getting out into the river and doing it like he does in freezing temperatures, but then I'm more of a desert rat. lol.
I hope you do some of this stuff and post about it!

You would absolutely love it April. Just start small with similar rocks. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

You've found masterpieces. Great artist there.

Howdy sir manoldonchev! I agree, I don't quite understand how he does it but the results are amazing.

I think with art comes patience. That's just fascinating!

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Howdy sir leeart! I agree and thanks for stopping by!

😊
Wow...!!
@janton
Awesome and most amazing..!!

Some of those river areas remind me of yours up there annephilbrick, I think you should try this!

Hello..!!
😊
@janton
I definitely have lots of rocks..!!
I have done a few balanced rocks but truly nothing as awesome as in the photos you shared....!! Those are spectacular..!

I agree, those type takes years of practice! Hey, that can be a new project for you on those long winter days when you're shut in your cabin! lol.

Wow, that guy is really channeling his hipster super powers! 🤣🤣🤣Really cool!

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Howdy sir badger! I can see you doing something like this, I don't think I'd have the patience!

I agree sir michealb, thanks for stopping by!

No, sorry, but this is just not possible. I think he's posing as a sculptor but is, in fact, the inventor of an extremely strong invisible glue.

lol! Well, I HAVE seen glue advertised that works underwater so maybe the video is edited to fake us out. Wow, you Irish are hard to convince!

lol..I'm glad you enjoyed this one barbara-orenya!