(Vide0 link HERE.) We don’t recall who alerted us to the amazing Michael Grab, who is a master at balancing stones. There are many videos of him making his incredible ephemeral sculptures, but we are struck by this one taken from HIS point of view. You can see how he feels the rock, patiently waiting to find the balance of a giant rock on a small round stone.

gravityglue.com
gravityglue.com

Having spent hours balancing rocks at beaches and in streams ourselves, we know that it is an extraordinary practice that involves losing oneself, and becoming one with the task at hand.

gravityglue.com
gravityglue.com

Recently, a friend gave us a set of small stones with which to practice balancing. We find they provide a curious challenge and perspective, like meditation.

We would reach a certain height…

Sally Schneider
Sally Schneider

…and then…lose our balance, and the stones would spill down, ready to be attempted again…

Sally's balancing stones 2
Sally Schneider

Then we’d find ourselves feeling the stones more acutely, their balancing point, until gradually, patiently, we’d find it and set the last rock on top.

Sally's balancing stones 4
Sally Schneider

It is a wondrously gratifying feeling…the stones, and ourselves, balanced.

Sally Schneider
Sally Schneider

And then we’d find how easy it is for them to fall out of balance.

Years ago, we spent an entire day on a stoney beach balancing stones with a friend. When we left that evening, as far as you could see were stacks of precarious sculptures, like some living beings. We came back the following day to find almost everyone knocked over by the tide. Which of course was part of the joy.

You can pretty much balance stones everywhere. Recently we came upon this extraordinary sculpture in the park across the way:

Sally Schneider
Sally Schneider

 

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4 replies on “Michael Grab Balances Stones and You Can Too

  1. BRILLIANT.
    Todays technology with stone age rocks. I watched every move, I felt what he was feeling.
    Made my day.

  2. This article just randomly caught my eye and now I feel the day has started in a radically better direction. Fsntastic. X F

  3. “Radically better” is fabulous.

  4. This was one instance where a Go-Pro camera had an utterly calming effect.

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