The Incredible Art Of Stone Balancing

in sculpture •  5 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.

grab studying sculpture.jpg
source

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:

winter sculpture.png

rocks with weeds.png

rocks in river.png

How in the world did he do this??
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river full.png

in the river.png

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. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

Not really sure it is a useful skill but hey if he can make a living doing it then good for him! (Oh and I have been offline for about 2 weeks so I will try to get to all the comments you did leave me over the next couple of days!)

What was that sir simms50? A Steemit vacation?
I agree about the artist, it's so unusual that I hope he can monetize it somehow.

He could sell the photographs and make saleable videos. Get commissions for garden sculptures. Although in such situations they would have to be protected ~ Or the garden lovers protected. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

Great ideas allyinspirit! I wonder if he has ever glued any together so they'll last? I don't see anything wrong with it but he is probably a purist in that regard. I agree though, he could work on commission and do demonstrations and teach about his work.

I had an idea for doing some as part of a larger sculpture ~ And using glue. But it kind of defeats the miraculousness of them. So I decided against it.

YES. Teaching others would be a great income generator. Some people are concerned that the over-enthusiasm of some rock stack makers in some areas is detrimental to the environment. If one was to teach it would be good to always keep this in mind. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

Very good points allyinspirit!

Yes I was off for 2 weeks. I queued up some posts for a week then pretty much was offline for the other week.

On sabatical or vacation or celebration of the feasts or traveling?

A little bit of all of them!
First was the Feast of Tabernacles, then I took a few days off after that. All in all it totaled around 14 days off!

From work too, or just steemit?

BOTH!!!

cool!

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!

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

Howdy sir @janton. I enjoyed looking all these examples of stone balancing art. Thanks for sharing.

Howdy there torrey.blog! Where do you hail from and what does "leader of engineers" mean? I'm so glad you enjoyed the stone sculptures and thanks so much for commenting!

Hey @janton,

I hail from California. By day time I lead teams of software engineers. :)

Howdy again torrey.blog! Oh how interesting...do you have any advice for the Steemit developers?

I love these !

That vid was fun to see.

Howdy jacey.boldart! I think it's so fascinating and I'm glad you enjoy them. thanks so much for commenting!

Amazing sense of balance. Great to watch, but I wouldn't have the patience to do it.

Howdy today sir Vincent! Isn't that something? I still don't quite understand it but I highly admire it. I don't think I would have the patience either. I mean it had to take hours and hours setting some of those scenes up with rows of rocks.

I think there is a method to this 'madness'. But I guess we will never know. 😊

There definitely is but I guess you'll let us know in your posts when you start doing it. lol.

You can count on that. 😊

lol! Yeah, IF you start doing it, that's a big if!

Howdy Jonboy. You know me so well. 😊

lol..I'll try it when you do, that will get me out of it!

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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.

awesome. The amount of patience that this guy has is off the charts. I would imagine that as a child we have all attempted to do something like this but this fella takes it into adulthood. I don't know if he is able to monetize this passion of his at all but I am impressed even if he can't. Good find!

Howdy gooddream and thank you so much for commenting. I wondered if he was able to monetize this gift, it's possible but his work is temporary depending upon the weather!

Mornin’ Cowboy! He must be a modern Houdini. A good post for #bouldersunday @shasta.

I thought about the bouldersunday posts but I couldn't find out if she was still doing it! lol..I asked a few people who never got back to me and I went to her blog and didn't see any boulder posts recently.

Thanks redheadpei!

I have a passion for rock stacks @janton and these ones by Michael Grab are truly spectacular. I've worked with very elementary stacking and understand the principle of working in 'stillness' so that you find the points of connection between the rocks. Once you find that connection ~ The rocks come into their own balance. Even if to us an arrangement looks like it would defy gravity, it doesn't. No glue needed. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

Howdy allyinspirit! That is so interesting, I've been asking people about this and no one has tried to do it so it's good to finally find someone who has and who understands it. Thanks so much for commenting about this!

Truly a pleasure. I started making some very small rock stacks in my garden, just to see if it really was possible, several years ago. And LOVED the experience of finding the balancing points. Then two years ago I was on a beach, at the end of the day and 'prompted' to make some there. I shared this article about the magical experience I had: True friendship and Dolphins. Making a Rock Pile.

I've also incorporated rock stacks into some of my ephemeral art pieces: 'Remembrance' was created for one of Melinda's Shadow Photo Contests which also coincided with Remembrance Day.

The understanding comes from actually making them @janton. I hope you'll have a go sometime. It's a very relaxing thing to do ~ As long as you don't get caught up with all the tumbles. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

Oh those rock piles in Remembrance are wonderful too! You must have great patience to do those. I'm sure I'll give it a try someday. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful experiences, photos and posts!

Yes. Even though these rock stacks were small and simple, when just one little rock fell off, it created a ripple of falls through the entire arrangement. Will do some more ~ Sometime. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

I think it would be therapeutic for people to focus on creating these natural structures. It would get their mind off their problems!

Howdy again allyinspirit! Those are wonderful little rock piles that you built, I love those and I'm so glad they photographed. What a blessing.

Sure was a blessing. Had to play with the shadows a little in LightRoom. Was SO happy ~ Dolphin magic never fails. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎

😊
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.

I stared at them for the longest time
So fascinating... and beautiful too
Thank you for sharing @janton :D

Howdy kaerpediem! That lady with the coolest username on Steemit! lol. It's truly amazing isn't it? I don't understand it and I'm still super impressed!

hahaha
You are too cute :D

I remember there was this thing a clown once did while the performers were getting ready
He invited four people from the audience into the ring
Got them to sit on chairs facing each other, and blindfolded them
Then rested their arms and legs in the position necessary
And moved the chairs out from under them
They stayed that way until they were told that the chairs were no longer under them
The realisation made them panic/move and they toppled to the floor
.... Good thing, no one got upset hahaha

Those rock formations intrigue me too
Especially the ones going across... defying gravity..
Amazing :D

Howdy kaerpediem! That is an amazing story! These gifted people are very inspiring even though I don't understand it! I'm so glad you enjoyed the rock sculptures!

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

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

This man is amazing! There’s something about art, using natural elements that is so soothing. At the same time his sculptures look like miracles - mind stimulating!

Howdy cindyhartz! I agree, it's mind boggling and seems impossible. I hope he can monetize his gift.

Hi, @janton!

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Howdy steem-plus! thanks so much for the upvote!

That video seriously held me spell bound Sir #janton.
This guy is definitely one of the best and his balancing co-ordination is out of this world. I am even typing softly now on this keyboard in cade I disturb those rocks hahaha.
Blessings!
Btw. what happened with the great voting amount? A secret or a whale curator? Lol

Howdy tonight sir papilloncharity! oh, isn't it fascinating? I was glued to that video too even though he wasn't moving most of the time. lol. Amazing, I hope he can somehow monetize this gift he has developed.

Oh man, the payout is stunning! The top ten voters are huge and I only know one of them, never heard of the other ones before! At first I saw the $18 and thought ocdb got me but it's all individuals.

I was thrilled because that pushed me to 69.915, closing in on my goal of rep70.

Well, you have to thank the new steemit hard fork for this, as it seems that some of the top curators have found you. Now you should try your best befriend each one of them.
I am also sick of the low voters. Imagine getting a 0.025% vote.
Blessings!

Well I think that is just an anamoly because of the sculpture post. Most people don't like my history posts. As far as befriending them, there is no way to contact them. Those top 9 don't post or leave comments.

Holy crap.

lol! Howdy sir wwwiebe! The most succinct summation of the post so far! Did you watch that crazy video? Holy smokes, that takes a great deal of patience and giftedness. We'll be seeing your rock sculptures soon?

So cool. I wanna try this. I would love the time needed to mellow and just focus on the rocks, but it would sap hours of my time that I just cant afford

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I hear ya paulag! we are probably the people who need the benefits of this type of expression the most! Perhaps when we retire?

In my childhood I was trying to do it 😂

Howdy thesobuz! Were you successful?

Ah not much 😶😶

Well I think it takes years of practice to get good at it and few of us can put that much time into it!

Yes I think so, thanks again for your reply

Wowee! That is some amazing art! The photographs of each piece are quite stunning, as well. Totally does each sculpture justice. I love the explanation of how it is a form of meditation. I'm going to have to check out the site to see more of his work. Thanks for sharing and Happy Tuesday! :)

  ·  5 years ago (edited)

Howdy plantstoplanks! I'm so glad you like it, I'm just astounded by what he does, that video freaked me out even though he wasn't moving during most of it. lol. So you'll post yours when you start building them?

@shasta definitely #bouldersunday sort of rocks! These are great @janton! Absolutely amazing!

I was going to do a bouldersunday but I couldn't find out if she was still doing that. I even asked you but I don't think you've been on your email much. lol. I'm glad you like them though, I agree, totally mind-boggling!

I just saw your email minutes ago and responded to all 3 of them! . This week has been crazy.

A good kind of crazy though right? With the Old Geezer Club meeting and the Packers winning. lol. Oh, and your pet-sitting duties!

You have got my activity schedule down! It has been all good crazy!

lol..I like good crazy!

Awesome. I love rock cairns but this is whole new level shit

lol..I couldn't agree more sir davekickyyall, thanks so much for commenting!

This guy is incredible he really does have a God's Gift i couldn't get just two rocks to stay together....lol...a great find sir janton 🤣

Howdy sir hangin! I agree. It makes me want to try it on a small scale but even then I don't think I'd have the patience. Although I do put up with you so I've proven that I have SOME patience. lol.

Haha...you are funny today maybe i will come and smack you with a couple of rocks and see if you can still have the patience to stand up straight....hehe...🤣 🤣 🤣

Oh wow @janton!! These are some totally amazing awesome boulders!! :-)
Unreal how many they can balance like that!

Howdy shasta! So good to see you and I'm sorry I didn't get this in as a bouldersunday post!

OMG, this is unbelievable. The guy rocks, amazing rock sculptures.
I watched tne video and still don't get it how it is possible. 😀

Howdy nelinoeva! Isn't that unreal? I feel the same way, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Have you ever tried balancing rocks?

Oh no, never 😀
I only try to balance ny life. LOL

lol! I know what you mean!

You know, I bet he doesn't have very bad allergies. One sneeze and he'd have to start all over! I've stacked stones for a photo or two before and, while I was successful, it took me several tries and was nowhere near as complex and balanced as these are. I wonder how long it takes him to make some of the more elaborate ones and how many times he's had to start over...

One sneeze..lol..very true. I bet he rarely loses them now but I bet it took supernatural patience to develop this skill!

Howdy Janton! Truly remarkable! Altough I do get it theoretically, I doubt I could build any, lol. But I may try next time I get a chance; the boys love rock so maybe we can have fun trying 😊

Oh that would be a fun thing to try together! Make a post out of it.

I'll do my best 😊

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!

Un equilibrio espectacular, que hermosa fotografía. @janton

A spectacular balance, what a beautiful photograph. @janton

Howdy sacra97! Thanks so much and I agree that the artist is very gifted!
I am so sorry about the turmoil that is going on in your country. Stay safe down there!

Thank you, if my country is very convulsed, my children left the country two left only one left with me. Thanks for the support, very nice pictures I loved. @janton

  ·  5 years ago (edited)

I hope things will change soon, that situation is terrible!

Sometimes things happen here that are not understood, you can not explain this bad socialism, so much corruption, of my three children and two went to Spain. Many thanks @janton

Do you have plans to try and leave sometime too?

I can travel I have a Spanish passport, I hope to visit my children outside one day, but my hopes of returning here I like more @janton
I don't have grandchildren yet and I hope to meet some, this old lady's illusion.

I love photographs, but I write my stories a lot more. I started on steemit telling when I studied in the internships they brought me an autistic child to the classroom, I had never had contact with such a special child. I take the toy the magic cube Do you remember it? You had to put it together for colors. I take the cube, I remove the colored stickers and try to assemble it correctly by gluing them again. Call the coordinator, this child has no mental retardation, although he did not follow the rules I try to solve the problem. Sorry, I am only excited about my work with special children. Thank you @janton

I use the translator I hope you understand more or less what I write, please excuse me if it's wrong. One makes the attempt, there should be no limits.

Howdy today sacra97! I understand you fine and bless you for working with special children!

These are all amazing! Watching the guy do it is spellbinding! I'm going to try it.

I agree owasco and I bet you'd be good at it. Do you have some rocks around there?

They don't call it Rockland County for nothing.

oh! lol. very good owasco!

That's pretty frign amazing. Like Jenga on a whole new level :P

lol..exactly sir enginewitty, way too much skill for me to do either!