Sunday, November 15, 2015

Frame of Reference



I think stones almost prefer being taken out of context. In competing for our attention they seem to understand when and where they need to stop blending in. Individually their big goal is to be chosen, taken home and appreciated in some new setting, where ironically they seem to not mind losing their identity again.

Even though they are completely solid and unable to move on their own, and of course, rigorously resistant to change or being shaped in any way, they still seem remarkably fluid and curiously adaptable  Given a chance they will fit in anywhere. 

I think it is this eagerness to enter into to all kinds of new relationships, to be combined and recombined in different arrangements that is so compelling. 

A dry stone wall is perhaps the best frame of reference for understanding this aspect of stones. It allows us to appreciate their dual nature -  that is, their individual randomness combined with their predisposition for being organized.

It is this selfless propensity for collective order that put things in perspective, and makes us appreciate how attractive everything looks 'framed', especially the landscape.