“What you pay attention to is what you become conscious of. Always.”
~ Unknown
This is the third orb-looking thing I’ve completed now since the first one last week. Making them so far has been extremely contemplative. So much care and attention must be paid to the overall balance the entire time. If not observed carefully, one small rock can bring down the massive blob of rocks. I had it happen at the end of an attempted blob…the one that would have been done before this one. LEARNING EXPERIENCE. So I took the lesson and applied it to this particular blob. This one actually rocked in the wind and scared the hell out of me a few times.
My body closely tuned with the feeling of the blob. There’s a point of feeling when I KNEW it would collapse without me. Instant adrenaline.
I really love this place. It is so quiet and relaxing. And the hike I make to get here kicks my ass every time. I always arrive to the quarry huffing for breath. But the strenuous lung exercise has a purifying quality. As if my spirit is cleansed by really pushing the limits of my own breath. I arrive with a clear spirit, and an activated creative instinct…. Deeeeeeeeep Breeeaaath…
**Notice the small point of light in the top picture.. near the horizon to the right of the globe, but still in the sky. I imagine with its brightness it might be another planet? Does anyone have any insight? Photo was taken December 1st 2012 at 4:46pm MST. camera view is pointing NE, so the light is prolly closer to due East.
<3
this is a superhero shot if i’ve ever seen one
You are not human and it is aweeeesome!!!! <3
damn homie!
Not toooooo shabby
mike send me the file
i love this picture so much
What an amazing work. I tried to do it, but it is so difficult the find the right balance. I appreciate your creative works.
these are profound~
well i’m sequencing a timelapse right now that shows the creation of this particular orb… that should explain a bit better than i can.. :) Though the timelapse highly simplifies the process… purely a physical account of time or the flow of creation.. :)
How did you do that?
shades of Andy Goldsworthy.
it is amazing and inconceivable!! i like how you took the pictures of it… nice effect!
Loving it, Michael. I don’t know why, but it really speaks to me. It is almost as if I understand it in exactly the way Alan Watts is describing in the quote about technique (Nov 11 post). I was always fascinated with the art of balance. And to know that it is done by a fellow Boulderite and the fact that I stumbled to your site from Huffington Post of all things makes me appreciate everything around me that much more. Thank you, Michael.
The small point of light in the top picture of the orb is indeed Jupiter. I have a screenshot from a star tracking app I can send to you.
this took about 5 or 6 hours to make i think…. all the rocks were right there… this whole area is a countless bed of blocks… luckily i completed this in the first attempt… almost collapsed at least 5 times.. :)
how long did it take you to build this??? and how long did it take you to find those rocks? and other times?? that is amazing!!!
I came across your site from http://www.thisiscolossal.com/. When I am hiking, I often build small rock cairns as a token of appreciation of the place I am in. Your art beautifully shares that sense while exploding the constraints of a “cairn.” Thank you.
I’m inspired by your work!
This one is dope Mike.
It’s awesome, but you had earlier made it look as if the form was larger than life – !
You ARE the Rock Whisperer!
no… everything is ground up :)
did you prebuild the top first?
ain’t perspective wonderful?!
Amazing work!!
VERY cool!
Andy G would be proud! ( or jealous…?)
you knwo dont even bother to answer these negative limited, small minded people, they are not worth the effort, we all know you do amazing balancing and we love seeing your amazing work, keep it up and just delete the idiots.
As always!!!!!! You’re amazing, Mike! I love it!!
your stone balancings are amazing and awe inspiring.
I just LOVE what you create! Amazing <3
I am pretty sure that is Jupiter. It is at opposition to the sun on 12/2.
That is so amazing! What a beautiful way to share yourself with the world. <3
beautiful <3
<3
Living art.
after about 90% of the rocks were on it, wind was harmless… though it did continue to flex with the wind gusts… scared the hell outta me many times…ha
No Way. Far out!
Robert, it’s funny that facebook automatically classified your comment as spam. ha. there is absolutely NO PHOTOSHOP doctoring of any of my photos unless i specifically say so. I’m not about playing tricks. your false accusation represents a limitation of mind.. You will highly enjoy seeing the timelapse i shot of creating this. :) please don’t troll my page. thx.
actual dimensions are between 2.5-3 feet in diameter.. the thing is still pretty big but not nearly as big as it looks in this perspective
NOT REAL PHOTOSHOP
What were the actual dimensions of that?
Great perspective shot!
Wow…amazing things you can do with a camera!
Amaziiiing!!!!!
Phenomenal. *sigh*
you make Andy Goldsworthy proud. damn dude.. holy epic!
thx krystle! that quote is perhaps what i was unknowingly searching for but didn’t find.. ha. thanks for sharing :)
Legendary. This picture evokes one of my favorite quotes from the last recorded interview with Terence McKenna, where he sums it all up…”What is it leading to?….I think it must be something about the spiritualization of matter….that matter is evolving towards quintessence and we are the startling witness of this thing. ” ;) Deepest (rain)bows of respect.
Hi Micheal,
i m really happy for you. This sculpture is amazing ! i think this n award for your
Will to discovered and try new way of being.
I m so proud to met you in Italy and if i ll cone to the usa ill come to visot
Thabks a lot
paolo
this prolly took nearly 6 hours-ish to make i think… no hurry. lots of deep breaths
Amazing balanced art ! How long did it take u to build it ?
I’m wondering about the size by the perspectives of the two images with you in them . . You are so much smaller looking, and the blob so much larger looking in the middle one?? What causes this? … Extraordinary blob work
the ground slopes down a bit behind the blob. so if i stand back there, it gives perspective of me looking small. thanks! btw :)
unbelievable