Posted on 12/05/2016 2:09:45 PM PST by aquila48
We’re having a hard time deciding whether Michael Grab is an artist or a magician, because he creates stunning structure from finely balanced rocks that seem to defy the law of physics.
These seemingly impossible structures require intense concentration and meditative focus. In the video below, Grab spends several minutes nearly frozen, making tiny adjustments until he gets all of the rocks’ centers of gravity just right.
“Over the past few years of practicing rock balance, simple curiosity has evolved into therapeutic ritual, ultimately nurturing meditative presence, mental well-being, and artistry of design,” writes Grab in his artist statement.
(Lot's of pictures at the site. Be sure to watch the video at the bottom to see him actually doing it. I still have a hard time believing that it doesn't collapse or that he isn't using some trick)
(Excerpt) Read more at boredpanda.com ...
Madd Skillz in that one.
No way that’s real! The rocks have to be screwed together or something. They’re not even equally balanced!
What is he a ####ing Jedi?
Then it isn’t impossible.
The ice is a nice touch.
Watch the video near the bottom of the link. You can see him do it.
Wow! I went to the webpage and it looks like it is real!! Completely amazing!
Superglue.
We have a field not too distant from my home, where a person has stacked rocks. None of them are this elaborate. None the less, they are pleasing to look at.
I have always thought of them as signs of intelligent life.
That’s not to say the person has to be a genius. It’s just that animals and birds don’t do this sort of thing.
Some human went out into the field and created something different.
I’m not sure I’d call it art. Perhaps that’s exactly what it is. The term art is tossed out there on so many things, it almost loses meaning.
Seems like more of a science exhibit the extremes this guy went to. Very nice whatever you categorize it as.
He’s not the only one who does this. It is a skill to balance and find the center of gravity in each rock. Once you master it you can make amazing structures but they aren’t extremely stable. The weight of the rocks themselves allow them to balance the way they do but there better not be too much wind about or anyone doing too much stomping the ground nearby.
Reminds me of “My dominoes just went down.” From the Toy. Jackie Gleason is making love to his wife when his giant dominoe display falls.
Gorilla Glue......Amazing stuff..............
These are really quite awesome, I respect his skills and the settings he chooses that makes it art.
My real question is about permanence, or rather the lack thereof. Just simple thermal change from sunshine would probably destabilize many of the ones displayed. Yet, ephemeral art is still art and he can rebuild if he chooses. Would it still be his art if it was made permanent with glue? If you had the video of the creation prior to ‘freezing’?
Thanks for the post, wonderful and peaceful AND seasonal!
I can see the wires.
cordless hammer drill, 1/8” masonry bit and 1/8” short pcs of round steel rod?
Seems like the slightest bit of air movement would knock half of those over.
It’s real. I saw a guy do this in a park in San Diego, did it for tips.
It was amazing.
The structures are very fragile.
The one in the video rivals this one IMO.
How about I give him the rocks and let’s see him balance them. This is BS.
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