In 1993, while studying sculpture in New York, I was exposed to the environmental sculpture of Andy Goldsworthy. I was deeply inspired by Andy’s sensitivity to form and his ability to see and feel the natural world in a way that was Primal and fully modern at the same time. I came across an image in one of his books that really moved me. It was a small image tucked in the back as I remember, not even part of the main body of the book, printed as part of the epilogue or even the last page. It was a single egg-shaped stone ground perfectly smooth and symmetrical by countless years in the ocean surf, balanced on its point against the vast ocean of blue in the background. Even thru the portal of a two dimensional image, the Presence of that stone touched me deeply…like the sudden emergence of a profoundly distant memory. My heart responded immediately with a drive: “I have to know how to do this”.  

It didn’t take long to feel my way into an understanding of how it all worked. As I did, I began to feel as if I was participating in a very ancient activity. Slowly over time this feeling deepened with conviction: “Men like me have been balancing stones like this as far back in time as anyone can imagine”. The practice took a hold of me and its been a love affair ever since. 

In the Temple section you will find a story I wrote a few years ago about a particular day in the river balancing stones. It was a magical day that brought to my awareness the full depth of what I was doing balancing rocks. I wrote the story to illustrate the dimensionality I experience in the practice, including the mechanics of how it works, the meditative state it cultivates and the reason it feels so good for me to share it.

The Gallery section is filled with a number of balances I have done at Sculpture Falls, Walnut Creek and Barton Springs in Austin, TX. This is a small collection of hundreds I have done over the years, mostly in solitude, with some of my very best left out for lack of images. I have only just recently started to photograph them, mostly in response to multiple requests from people I have met while balancing. I have to admit that sharing them in bulk like this is very strange to me.

Please feel free to leave comments in the Comments section if you like. I always like to hear about the impact my work has on people of like mind and heart. 

Enjoy, Jeff