Portrait of the Artist as a rock stacker.
Even when you think the rock stack is finished, you can always fit another rock. There's always more balance to be found.
Walking from one stack to another. There are many stacks now, but not nearly enough.
The artist says the biggest rock stack has at least a ton of rocks in it if we were to weigh it. The biggest cairn was built by Babba and his friend, Matt Dowdy, when Mama and Dew Drop were away on their October girls' weekend. It's the way male bonding happens when both builders are artists with a lot of brute strength and some beer.
Lest you think there is no color in this winter world of sticks that look like bones. Behold the vibrancy!
It's always a good idea to stop and shake it while you're working.
The artist's apprentice.
This is a good time to mention that I cried laughing while taking these pictures. Here is my daughter standing in the creek working so diligently on collecting rocks for the sculptures while wearing zebra boots. And here is my husband, randomly digging with a shovel in the winter sun to route the creek so that the water swirls around the rock stacks just so. My husband is dressed in what I call His French Cheesemaker's Outfit- it looks like he lives in the French countryside and is the farmer of some special breed of cattle I've never heard of that is known for it's role in making the most delectable, earthy cheese that I can't pronounce.
Is this my life or am I dreaming?
Is this my life or am I dreaming?
The creek wiggles and winds down through the holler with the rock stacks. I'm a sucker for the harsh shadows and reflections this time of year and the sound the water makes as it trickles
on down to where it meets the big river. This is one big collaboration with nature- these rock stacks and water continue on
even when we're not present
and
when we're not looking.
on down to where it meets the big river. This is one big collaboration with nature- these rock stacks and water continue on
even when we're not present
and
when we're not looking.
Stop and pet the hound dog.
Stop and kiss the apprentice.
A kiss for Babba, Rock Stacking Extraordinaire.
Stop and kiss the apprentice.
A kiss for Babba, Rock Stacking Extraordinaire.
Happiness rules. So does making art in nature-together, as a family.
15 comments:
Wonderful!
There is plenty of vibrancy in those black and white shots. Wow! Love everything about this.
This has so much awesome in it- it can't be expressed!!
Aaaaahhhhhh.
Oh, this is happiness. Happiness indeed.
Love these photos and this post. Leaves Brent and I wondering how we strayed so far from our original idea of what our lives might be like once we had kids.
Truly an inviting, vivacious scene.
Winter Sun!
That is your life. I love the rock stacking, amazing. If you get a big rain, will the stacks come down? I hope not.
So beautiful. Made me feel calm just reading this/looking at it.
lovely
this is so incredibly beautiful.
So wonderful!!! The photos are worth a thousand words and your words make us feel as though we are right there with you! I especially loved imagining Babba as the exotic French cheese maker that he so is!
So wonderful!!! The photos are worth a thousand words and your words make us feel as though we are right there with you! I especially loved imagining Babba as the exotic French cheese maker that he so is!
This is so wonderful!!! Your photos are worth a thousand words and your words make us feel as though we are right there with you! I especailly loved imagining Babba as the exotic French cheese maker he so is!
Also lovely. I was so deeply moved merely watching Andy Goldsworthy’s Rivers & Tides (which surely you’ve seen?)…but to actually build large forms in nature…to experience such artmaking…must be incredible.
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