October 5, 2011 Rock Balancing
 

http://cellar.org/2011/balanced-rocks-tm.jpg

Mark Frauenfelder, of BoingBoing, was hanging out at Eben G. Fine Park, Boulder, CO, for a family reunion. He noticed these sculptures in the river and took the above picture thinking they were a permanent art installation.

He later discovered they were rock sulptures by Mike Grab of Gravity Glue.

Quote:

The formations act like beacons that inspire interactions with spirit. Intricately balanced rocks spur reactions ranging from disbelief to pure reverence as if they speak to your subconscious.

Mike lives in Boulder and balances rocks when he can. Check out his website for some fantastic images of balanced rocks.

His website also includes his philosophy of balancing rocks and hints on how to do it yourself.

Quote:

Many people liken the formations to people, and groups or "gardens" to communities of people. They describe a common sensation of increased energy dancing among the gardens.

I know someone whose little kid saw one of these on a shoreline, was curious, so walked over to look at it more closely, touched it, and a heavy rock fell and smashed the kid's bare foot. These are one of those deceptively dangerous things. In hindsight it's obvious, but I bet you didn't look at these and immediately think "broken feet." It's good that these are out in a stream where they are relatively unreachable.

not quite the same thing... but this is known as the cheesewring... a natural(?) stone formation in eastern Cornwall ( s.w. England )


http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...R6_x1WLSuW_fxA


another pic... for a bit of perspective...
http://www.cornwallpictures.co.uk/60...min-stones.jpg

you're right grynch, not the same thing. But you still might break your foot.

I've pushed against those stones tho.. all 200lbs of me :rolleyes:... not a budge

You're not trying hard enough. Have you not seen 127 hours?

that cheesewring is pretty cool.

On Bodmin Moor, near a lovely little village of St. Neot where I stayed at an excellent farm B&B. Also see the Eden Project while you're there.

Attachment 34351

Mmmm.... cheese

Scriv , when were you there ?

Those are cairns.

I haz one in mah backyard.

Did they try to sue God over gravity?

Clearly, this practice should be outlawed.

Hah! I'm trying to picture the look on your face if you'd actually pushed them over.:p:

I don't think it should be outlawed at all, in fact, I've done this myself.

But I do think that people should be mindful of what they are doing and how it may impact others, especially in a public place. I think these are kind of cool and the few that I've seen, I've enjoyed. But if they were everywhere, I'd probably get sick of them, especially if I were visiting some pristine back country stream and was trying to get away from signs of other people. These go against the idea of "leave no trace."

If I was strolling along this river and came to these stones i would wonder what :alien: being had piled them thusly, call NATGEO TV to come do an entire story then start my own rock-based religion.

BTW - the guy who founded the church where the huge touchdown Jesus burnt to the ground after being hit by lightning - he died over the weekend. I wonder if they'll finish that new Jesus statue now?