Saturday, August 7, 2010

Suiseki


View One

Not sure if I mentioned it before, but I happen to like stones of all types. When Gary and I were first married. I collected quartz boulders and made rock walls with them. I collected so many rocks everyone started calling me the rock lady. On a trip to Cambria I collected several rocks from Moon Beach, sadly I left them in my Foresthill Gardens, and I miss them.


View Two

Years later I also built rock walls when we lived in Tuolumne. Whenever we would go on trips in our trailer or motorhome, Gary would warn me not to collect too many rocks, worrying we'd end up like Lucy and Desi in The Long, Long Trailer. Yesterday we unpacked the only stone I still have (other than the rocks I got from Dan the Rock Man), which I call red rock, which is really more of a coral pink color. I wonder what mineral content this stone is?

I picked up red rock on a trip to New Mexico over nine years ago. We just unpacked red rock yesterday. Red rock measures 4 x 12 x 8 inches, perhaps large for a Suiseki. We were traveling down a road which traversed a streambed in several places in a New Mexico canyon. This was the only red rock we saw in the middle of the stream, all the rest were natural earth toned colors. I just had to have it.


View Three

Earlier this week I was out of megabytes for my internet service, so I went to use the library computers. I happened to be browsing the art section and noticed a book on Suiseki, the ancient Asian art of beautiful stones. Reading about Suiseki, I understand a little more why I've always been drawn to stones.

Shaped over time by nature, Suiseki stones are chosen because they appeal to us for different reasons. The stones are examined and the stylistic appeal is classified by shape, surface, place of origin, or color. Further categories in shape are landscape or object stones. Surface stone subcategories are human, animal, plant, landscape, celestial, weather or abstract.


View Four

Later Suiseki stones are placed on special bases for display. These bases are traditionally constructed of wood or daiza, bronze or doban, and ceramic or suiban. The bases are chosen and constructed to emphasize or enhance the shape of the stone and present the stone to the viewer from it's best side. The base or stand should not compete with the rock but complement it. Be sure to Google Suiseki images to see some beautiful examples on bases. Some Suiseki are even placed in mini zen gardens.


View Five

I've posted several views of red rock from different angles. I haven't cleaned the rock; it's in the condition I found it. Do you have a favorite view of red rock? Which view appeals to you the most? Which category would you place red rock? I plan to make a special ceramic base, once I choose the best view for this stone - maybe a black base and a mini zen garden with some white Florida sand. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

8 comments:

  1. What a lovely stone, Linda! Its color is so beautiful and I feel some gentle and warm energy from it. I'm very interested in how you'll display it.

    PS I've read your previous post and found your blue bicycle fantastic!! Thank you for sharing all these!

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  2. Hi Sapphire, thanks, I was hoping you would notice this post, since I knew you would know about Suiseki. It really is a lovely stone and I was so happy to have learned about Suiseki. Glad you liked the bicycle, was supposed to be lavender or purple colored to complement the lavender farm I had.

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  3. Like the variety of surfaces in
    #1. Always seem to lean towards the not so perfect.
    I ususlly bring home a rock on every walk. They are like snowflakes.

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  4. Hi Patti, thanks, another rock collector, I like your thought that rocks are like snowflakes, a gift from the heavens and eons.

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  5. Very interesting post and rock. It's really beautiful and I'll look forward to seeing your choice for displaying it. Have a great Sunday!

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  6. Hi Marguerite, thanks, I am so glad you appreciate the beauty of this rock. I hope folks don't think an object, such as a rock, that is found is not art. I notice that artist's, in many cases, imitate or reflect nature or the natural world in their art, and yet in rocks, art is all around them.

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  7. Red rock is what first drew me to Utah and the many hikes I did in the SE part of the state. I, too, decorate with rocks. Everywhere I go, my souvenir is a rock. I like 'em.

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  8. Hi Teresa, thanks, another person who collects rocks, I am so happy and surprised to learn that. A rock is one of the best and long lasting souvenirs.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment