Michael Grab - The Rock Artist
A few months back, I came across a video of the Canadian artist, Michael Grab who takes a bit of a different approach to his meditative craft of “gluing” rocks, with nothing else but gravity to hold it together. Michael Grab creates his art by carefully balancing each rock upon the next, giving the rocks a proper balance, resulting into astonishing, mesmerizing and utterly beautiful sculptures.
Michael Grab and his “Gravity Glue” natural art made a huge impression on me, so on one of my recent trips to the island of Crete, when I came upon a deserted beach with beautiful pebbles and rocks, I decided to try my hand at this art form myself.
As I eagerly began balancing one rock on top of another, the outcome were always the same, they collapsed. But instead of giving up, I shifted my thoughts and started focusing on the here and now. Being there on this secluded beach surrounded by stillness, pushed my consciousness into the moment. Instead of thinking what I was doing and letting my mind argue with the shape of the rock, I just did it and then my rock sculptures evolved naturally. Finally, when I balanced my last pebble on the very top of the rock sculpture, and then stood back and looked at the finished creation, I felt an amazing accomplishment and appreciation of the moment, and very much in peace. Truly a meditative experience.
I was also very surprised when I noticed the small crowd of people who were standing there on the beach, taking pictures of my stone art.
My first "Gravity Glue" rock sculptures pales in comparison to the sculptures made by Gravity Glue artist, Michael Grab. However, the importance is not the final outcome since each person has a unique style of balance. The importance is the connection with our surrounding environment. This artwork is a type of meditation technique that helps turn your thoughts away from your normal preoccupations towards an appreciation of the moment and a larger perspective on life.
Fibromyalgia and Suicideon 08/01/2012
Sannel's Healthy Pound Cakeon 07/17/2012
Lentils - The Healthy Foodon 07/09/2012
My Little Tea Storyon 07/04/2012
Comments
Coincidence. On a recent visit to Lisbon I saw an artist working on the shore using this technique, and I was so impressed. He had to renew the sculptures daily as the tide washed them over when it was high, but each day's sculptures were new.
I saw something similar in the Norwegian mountains, where at one site people make gravity glue sculptures that depict trolls.
This is where Art meets Science There must be some Physics (Forces ) at play here too. Great pictures . TY
It seems wind must be taken into account, especially f the rocks are balanced over a point near the edge.