silent messengers
Europe and the Americas 2006-2010
This is my interpretation of street art, art which is for people to discover outside of galleries or museums. While stickers, stencils and graffiti can be considered intrusive, the rocks are natural to their environment. They do not pollute or leave a long-term impact. I enjoy street art in cities but felt wrong about bringing unnatural elements to the environments in which the rocks are balanced. Over time the rocks will be repositioned by the wind and the waves or even curious or enraged passer bys. They will keep their natural flow and not put the system at work out of balance.
I have been intrigued by balance as well as chaos for extended time. One constantly needs to balance the chaos we live in. silent messengers plays with both concepts. In physics chaos is defined as follows: “A dynamical system that is extremely sensitive to its initial condition.” The moment rocks are in balance and I take my fingers off them they are in chaos. Wind, vibration from crashing waves or vehicles driving by, insects or birds landing on them, kids kicking them; the state of balance is under constant attack from the dynamic elements of their environment. The most minor alteration to the initial circumstance of when the point of balance was achieved can bring the rocks to a fall. Sometimes the balance will be prolonged for days, sometimes only for seconds. Nothing stays perfect forever. One constantly needs to readjust or start over to stay in balance.
Balancing rocks on top of each other also has a very healing aspect to it. I get very focused and invested in a balance. It becomes a meditation. The mind goes blank and the body focuses solely on the task at hand. I have balanced in snow, heat, water and on busy streets, completely freed from the environment. It has become a personal escape from my mind and surroundings. The images I take of these balanced rocks act as reminders of the moments of peace, like a small dose of escape.
Overall a wonderful activity, rocks can be balanced anywhere where there are rocks, at any time. Stressed out waiting for the bus? Entertain the other stressed out people by balancing a couple rocks laying around and get an escape from your situation with it.
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