Two unrelated people have now demanded explanation for this balance. They were both quite certain that it must be reinforced if at all possible. According to my email an entire high school physics class and their teacher were slightly confounded at how this balance can be real. :D
I admit, this arrangement does look a bit strange.. as in possibly impossible… well.. it is definitely without a doubt a REAL balance. Gravity and rocks ONLY.. this photo was actually taken the next morning.. so the balance remained exactly like this all night.
Explanation?
DEPTH
it may look impossible from a 2-D perspective, but the balancing mass of the arrangement stretches into a non existent third dimension behind the left side of that middle rock… . Also, the top rock is considerably less massive in relation to the middle rock. The top rock, unlike the middle rock, has very little depth. it is more like a flat slab of sandstone i think. Orientation gives a direct look at it’s broadest face.
Here is where it gets a bit more interesting (in my opinion :)
This was a really fun arrangement to play with… The top and middle rock fit together in a variety of counterbalance positions… just by manipulating the middle rock slightly, it could hold the top rock at a variety of levels.. check out the pictures :) Here we can get a sense of just how versatile rock balance can be design-wise.. :)
Fine way of explaining, and nice paragraph to get facts concerning my presentation subject, which i
am going to present in college.
hi Suzan, is there any possibility i can get a picture of the images being shown to the class? would be cool to share on page… THANKS ~ Michael
Hello Michael,
I couldn’t find this balance for purchase in your shop. I would love to buy it one day. It is the crux of why I visited your blog. Going to a blog is something I have never done before but your work spoke to me in a way I rarely experience I grew up in Boulder and it will always be “home” to me. I was sure some of your art was near 9th between Arapahoe and Canyon. Having literally spent many hours traversing your site I found that to be true – the park there is one of my favorite places in the world. I balanced rocks in my rock garden in AZ – the rocks were granite from Puerto Penasco Mexico beaches. They were so rudimentary but brought me great joy. Many people would play with them which was delightful, too. I hope to see one of your demonstrations when I am in Boulder this summer. You are so lucky to have found a vocation that satisfies your soul. A pleasure, pure and simple, Carol
I love the color in this one.
balancing rocks
is like milking cows.
requires total focus
and clears the mind.