I just now stumbled onto this writing even though I have been a subscriber for some time. Superb and enchanting. As I read your descriptions of the stones I recalled the stone work of Pete's brother, Dan, who built a perfect cairn in a large room exhibiting miscellaneous art forms for a big show in Malibu. I recall that Dan had a video of his work from start to finish. He later told me the relief he felt when he demonstrated to the patrons as shown in the video the sturdiness of the cairn by throwing his weight with outstretched arms against the top sides....and the cairn didn't budge an inch. He had privately feared an immediate collapse of hundreds of stones.
While reading I kept thinking I had to let you know about Dan's work and Pete of your work. I was pleased to see that Pete had already done so.
Your rock of ages type relationship also struck a harmonious chord. I had always planned when I retired to replace a shaky old wooden bridge across a small rivulet in our front yard with a small stone Burnside bridge. I knew I had a lot of learning and hard work ahead of me but relished the beauty of such a work of stone. The Holiday Farm Fire destroyed Dan's video and my dream as well. Best wishes.
Beautifully written. I'm a big fan of Goldsworthy and the rock walls I met in upstate NY. Hope we can connect when you settle out here in the Wild West.
I enjoyed “THE VOICES of STONES”. My brother works with stones. Perhaps became interested in observing rock walls around Chico. I missed seeing you at our high school class reunion.
Really excellent. My daughter lives in Harpswell, and we visit her a couple of times a year. Look forward to checking out the stone walls you mentioned. And I will forward it to her--she's a photographer and I hope will be inspired to take some pictures as suggested in your piece.
What a blessing to awake this morning to a golden sunrise and your beautiful story! It is the story of a man in touch with the rock within and with the patience and processes that bring it to life. I was a witness to the building of your beautiful wall and I hold it in my heart. Rocks build not just walls but gateways, openings to new spaces. You have adorned the rocks with honor as you cast them into the ocean. Blessings follow them on their journey and on yours. All my relations!
Oh ! Gordon j'adore ce texte. De la méditation en pleine conscience en construisant ton mur. Ces pierres qui parlent (j'ai l'impression d'avoir lu un livre là-dessus mais le titre m'échappe). Il est tard, je vais me coucher mais je reprends demain car je veux savoir ce qu'il va en être de ce mur. J'ai vu à la fin de ton texte qu'il y a de belles photos de murs et les œuvres de Goldsworthy qui m'émeuvent toujours. Pour moi la méditation en pleine conscience c'est le jardinage. Et, comme toi tu parles aux pierres, je parle à mes plantes. Un grand merci !
Wonderful, poetic and contemplative. I had a neighbor in Colorado who built a long retaining wall of red sandstone. I don’t know how much he listened to the stone, but he definitely made it listen to him. He would break and cut each piece so that it fit perfectly with its neighbors. It also took him two years, as I recall. And, curiously, his name was Jim Adams. Perhaps a relative.
You will not find the lovely rocky Maine coast along the Pacific shore. It is also unique along the Atlantic coast.
Rock works, cairns, are not unique to Maine. On an oceanographic vessel along the Labrador coast, the charts show the locations of cairns ashore to help us navigate our way. Who built these large, helpful piles of rock to be seen by mariners miles at sea? Thanks to their consideration.
I just now stumbled onto this writing even though I have been a subscriber for some time. Superb and enchanting. As I read your descriptions of the stones I recalled the stone work of Pete's brother, Dan, who built a perfect cairn in a large room exhibiting miscellaneous art forms for a big show in Malibu. I recall that Dan had a video of his work from start to finish. He later told me the relief he felt when he demonstrated to the patrons as shown in the video the sturdiness of the cairn by throwing his weight with outstretched arms against the top sides....and the cairn didn't budge an inch. He had privately feared an immediate collapse of hundreds of stones.
While reading I kept thinking I had to let you know about Dan's work and Pete of your work. I was pleased to see that Pete had already done so.
Your rock of ages type relationship also struck a harmonious chord. I had always planned when I retired to replace a shaky old wooden bridge across a small rivulet in our front yard with a small stone Burnside bridge. I knew I had a lot of learning and hard work ahead of me but relished the beauty of such a work of stone. The Holiday Farm Fire destroyed Dan's video and my dream as well. Best wishes.
Beautifully written. I'm a big fan of Goldsworthy and the rock walls I met in upstate NY. Hope we can connect when you settle out here in the Wild West.
I enjoyed “THE VOICES of STONES”. My brother works with stones. Perhaps became interested in observing rock walls around Chico. I missed seeing you at our high school class reunion.
Really excellent. My daughter lives in Harpswell, and we visit her a couple of times a year. Look forward to checking out the stone walls you mentioned. And I will forward it to her--she's a photographer and I hope will be inspired to take some pictures as suggested in your piece.
What a blessing to awake this morning to a golden sunrise and your beautiful story! It is the story of a man in touch with the rock within and with the patience and processes that bring it to life. I was a witness to the building of your beautiful wall and I hold it in my heart. Rocks build not just walls but gateways, openings to new spaces. You have adorned the rocks with honor as you cast them into the ocean. Blessings follow them on their journey and on yours. All my relations!
Oh ! Gordon j'adore ce texte. De la méditation en pleine conscience en construisant ton mur. Ces pierres qui parlent (j'ai l'impression d'avoir lu un livre là-dessus mais le titre m'échappe). Il est tard, je vais me coucher mais je reprends demain car je veux savoir ce qu'il va en être de ce mur. J'ai vu à la fin de ton texte qu'il y a de belles photos de murs et les œuvres de Goldsworthy qui m'émeuvent toujours. Pour moi la méditation en pleine conscience c'est le jardinage. Et, comme toi tu parles aux pierres, je parle à mes plantes. Un grand merci !
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=goldsworthy&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDRTmwMvPtIE
A couple days ago I wrote something about watching a great stone-mason create a wall, and here you are with this. Thank you.
I was reminded of Goldsworthy and the Indian( Native peoples) rock walls around our shared childhood home in Chico.
Goldsworthy even made a wall at Stanford, your alma mater..
and a larger sculpture in Golden Gate park near the Presidio
Wonderful, poetic and contemplative. I had a neighbor in Colorado who built a long retaining wall of red sandstone. I don’t know how much he listened to the stone, but he definitely made it listen to him. He would break and cut each piece so that it fit perfectly with its neighbors. It also took him two years, as I recall. And, curiously, his name was Jim Adams. Perhaps a relative.
Gordon,
You will not find the lovely rocky Maine coast along the Pacific shore. It is also unique along the Atlantic coast.
Rock works, cairns, are not unique to Maine. On an oceanographic vessel along the Labrador coast, the charts show the locations of cairns ashore to help us navigate our way. Who built these large, helpful piles of rock to be seen by mariners miles at sea? Thanks to their consideration.
What takes you to the west?
Ron Fraser